Follow these tips to prevent and alleviate joint pain caused by osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, otherwise known as the ‘wear and tear disease’ or degenerative joint disease, is one of the most common contributors to joint pain in older adults and elderly people.[1] It happens when the cartilage that acts as a cushion between your joints starts to break down, causing the bones to rub together and create friction, which can lead to pain, stiffness, and swelling.[2] If left untreated, osteoarthritis can cause permanent damage and disability to a person[3] and prevent them from leading a comfortable, normal life.
In clinical profiling done for the Osteoarthritis Network of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH),[4] osteoarthritis sufferers are generally composed of women, though a significant percentage of men are also afflicted with it. Still, regardless of gender, middle-aged to elderly people are affected by it the most. This is because of the natural degeneration of the body that comes with age, making elderly people more susceptible to the disease.[5]
However, this does not mean that osteoarthritis is practically a synonym for aging. While aging is a major risk factor, there are a number of ways you can still prevent osteoarthritis from getting worse and slow down the weakening of your joints.
Exercise, exercise, exercise[6]
It is a common misconception that exercise, due to its dynamic and strenuous nature, contributes to the ‘wear and tear’ aspect of joint degeneration, but that is not true! If done properly, exercise strengthens your muscles and can help with weight loss, which is crucial in lessening the pressure on your joints, thus also lessening the pain you feel. It also keeps your joints moving, which can reduce the feeling of stiffness due to inactivity.
Eat the right kind of food[7]
This goes hand-in-hand with exercise in achieving weight loss goals to lessen joint pressure and pain. While food cannot cure osteoarthritis, eating the right kind of food and maintaining a proper, healthy diet can help alleviate symptoms and prevent them from worsening. Eat foods that have anti-inflammatory properties such as olive oil, foods that are high in fiber, tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, fish that have omega-3 fatty acids, and fruit.
Practice good sleeping habits[8]
Getting enough sleep is essential to help your body regenerate and heal any damage it may have acquired while you were awake. Joint pain and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis can make getting a good night’s rest difficult, though, so the best way to achieve that is by practicing in a nighttime routine that can get you relaxed and comfortable. Take a warm bath to relieve swelling in your joints, or apply hot or cold compresses before you sleep. You can also invest in orthopedic mattresses and pillows that are specially designed to help reduce back and body pain while sleeping.
Trust the right medication[9]
Finally, using the right kind of medication to relieve any pain and slow down the degeneration of your joints is the best help you can give yourself. Good over-the-counter medicine for this is Arthrite, an FDA-approved traditional herbal medicine for joint pain. It is an anti-arthritic medicine that contains 14 herbal extracts and can reduce pain and discomfort caused by osteoarthritis.
Arthrite is clinically proven safe and effective in providing relief to pain, slowing down the degeneration of cartilage, and helping overcome disability. It has anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidants to protect your joints from free radical damage, immunomodulatory properties that can help slow down aging-related degenerative diseases, and ensures therapeutic, effective, and speedy recovery. Through improving your lifestyle and taking effective medication, life does not have to stop moving…and neither do you!
Arthrite is distributed exclusively by New Marketlink Pharmaceutical Corporation (NMPC) and is available in drugstores nationwide. Arthrite is not allowed for use in pregnant and lactating women, and in children below 18 years old. To know more about Arthrite, head on to https://nmpc.com.ph/product/arthrite/.
[1] Arden N, Nevitt MC. Osteoarthritis: epidemiology. Best practice & research. 2006 Feb;20:3–25
[2] https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/osteoarthritis.htm
[3] https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/osteoarthritis.htm
[4] https://www.oarsijournal.com/article/S1063-4584(12)00380-9/pdf
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2818253/
[6] https://acpinternist.org/archives/2016/07/osteoarthritis.htm
[7] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322603
[8] https://www.healthline.com/health/osteoarthritis/sleep-better-knee-pain#sleeping-habits
[9] https://acpinternist.org/archives/2016/07/osteoarthritis.htm
Karina is not your ordinary supermom. She juggles her time bonding with her three amazing kids while being in the loop on the latest happenings in the tech and lifestyle scene. Follow me on Instagram (@digitalfilipina) regularly visit www.digitalfilipina.com for daily dose of updates not just for moms but for everyone!
