| Osteoarthritis is along with rheumatoid arthritis one of | | | | If you suspect you may be suffering from |
| the two main forms of arthritis that is prevalent in | | | | osteoarthritis it is a good idea to contact a doctor as |
| today's society. It is a disease of the joints that affects | | | | soon as possible. If you find you have recurring pains in |
| the cartilage tissue, which prevents the joints from | | | | your joints, or an unnatural degree of stiffness, swelling |
| grinding together, with osteoarthritis the cartridge can | | | | of joints, or it just seems as though in you can feel |
| break down. This means that the different bones in the | | | | bones grinding on each other, then it may be worth |
| joints come into contact with each other and gradually | | | | seeing your doctor so that he can give you a |
| wear away causing damage and pain. | | | | diagnosis. Doctors use a variety of tests to determine |
| Increasing levels of this disease mean that within two | | | | whether you are suffering from this disease including |
| decades it is possible that around 20% of aged people | | | | examinations, x-rays and blood tests. |
| in the US will be suffering with this condition. In older | | | | Very often the doctor will, if osteoarthritis is found, |
| patients the disease tends to be more common in | | | | make various recommendations to the patient that will |
| women than in men, although before middle age this is | | | | help them to cope with both the pain and maintenance |
| reversed. Although it affects people differently, some | | | | of the disease. If overweight, your physician will very |
| doctors believe that different factors as such as | | | | often recommend reducing your weight and thus |
| obesity, age, stress impacts on joints and sports can | | | | minimizing the pressure on the joints. Also experts in |
| affect the likelihood of contracting the disease. | | | | the field very often consider exercise extremely |
| The most common areas that are affected are the | | | | important to keep the joints moving and help the |
| fingers, neck, back and hips. When the fingers are | | | | patient maintain mobility. A good diet is also important |
| affected they can become misshapen and puffed up. | | | | and can be of great benefits in coping with the |
| This can make it very difficult to do manual tasks and | | | | disease. |
| can seriously affect the dexterity of the patient. The | | | | Osteoarthritis is a very painful and debilitating disease |
| hips are quite often affected also and this can cause a | | | | but with a good diagnosis and the right treatment and |
| lot of difficulty in normal everyday tasks such as | | | | other factors, such as a good diets and proper |
| standing sitting and walking. If the effects are very | | | | exercise, as prescribed by a doctor or physician many |
| severe, sometimes the doctor recommends a hip | | | | patients can cope well and learn how to maintain a |
| replacement. | | | | healthy and positive attitude towards the future. |