Osteoarthritis-Guest Post from US

This is yet another valuable post from my friend Esmiralda from US who is specialised in the health field and has made beneficial posts to my blog earlier on Anti-smoking.To know more about her organisation,log onto:-http://www.maranatha.org/Template_Load.aspx?PageID=242.

This time her priceless post is about Osteoarthritis. This is what she has to say.....

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and it occurs in people as they age. Arthritis is inflammation of joints.Joints are the bending connections of the bones such as: elbows, knees, hips, knuckles. Every bending connection is covered by a smooth tissue called: cartilage and that is enclosed by a lining called: synovium, which makes synovial fluid or joint lubricant, to keep the joint moving smoothly.

In rheumatiod arthritis,the body immune system reacts to the joint lubricant as if it is a foreign tissue (reason not fully clarified). This rejection of the body causes inflammation with pain and hence leads to deformity.

Other forms of arthritis may be associated with infection, tumors or even gout.Osteoarthritis is not associated with infection, tumors, crystals or auto antibodies, but seems to occur in people who have a family history of the disease, persons who have seriously overworked their joints or suffered a trauma. In this type of arthritis, the covering smooth tissue called cartilage degenerates or fades, because of constant rubbing or bending. When this process involves joints such as knees or hips, it can cause difficulty in walking.

In small joints as in the hands, it results in weakness and not being able to hold or grab or catch.

Normal physical exercises can be damaging to the arthritic joints, but aquatic (water) exercises has been shown to be very helpful and also helps in loosing weight. Dietary changes are not particularly useful in helping osteoarthritis, though a reduced acid intake may help rheumatoid arthritis and a vegetarian diet is always beneficial.

I pray that this little information is an eye-opener to the disease that ravages a lot of our elders.