What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a disease that is diagnosed when the cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones at your joints deteriorates. It is a very common condition that is chronic in nature and affects millions of people worldwide. There is no single cause that has been attributed to the condition, which is progressive in nature and has no cure. Although a single cause has not been identified, several lifestyle factors increase OA progression and making changes to these factors could help prevent osteoarthritis and slow down OA progression while offering relief from symptoms.

There are several risk factors of OA that include age, gender and genetics, but these are beyond our control. However, the following are some of the lifestyle factors that may lead to osteoarthritis, with suggestions on how they can be altered to reduce osteoarthritis-related risks.

1. Nature of occupation: According to a study, if your job description requires you to be on the move constantly and involves repetitive physical activity that places stress on your joints, such as kneeling, squatting or continuous walking, you are at a higher risk of developing OA. If you fall within this group, it is recommended that you visit a doctor and ensure that you are doing all you can to reduce the burden on your joints.

2. Lack of exercise: A sedentary lifestyle with too little or no physical activity may contribute to poor skeletal and muscular health. Regular exercise is essential to prevent or slow down OA progression since it keeps your joints healthy and fit, helps fight inflammation and pain and also improves your overall physical health, which reduces the severity of OA-related symptoms.

3. Being overweight/obese: Being overweight or obese poses obvious risks to joint health, especially load-bearing joints such as your knees. According to one study, for each additional pound of weight, you are placing up to 4 pounds of extra stress on your knees, and this greatly increases wear and tear of the cartilage that accelerates the onset and progression of OA. Get regular exercise and watch your weight to ensure that your joints are not being over-burdened since the effects of OA are not reversible.

4. Poor diet: Practicing a balanced and nutritious diet that provides you with all the necessary nutrients such as protein, vitamins and minerals, carbohydrates, and healthy fats is essential to maintain bone health. Vitamin D deficiency, for example, has been decisively linked to poor joint health and a higher risk of osteoarthritis. A poor diet is more likely to leave you overweight as well, which, as mentioned earlier, is a lifestyle factor that accelerates OA progression.

5. Overexertion: Too much high-impact exercise or overworking your joints could cause joint injuries and weakness. Too many weight-bearing exercises are not good for your joints since they wear down the cartilage that is key to good joint health.

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