Are There Ways to Avoid the Development of Arthritis?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports over 100 types of arthritis, an umbrella term for many disorders affecting joints in your body. It’s not a single disease or condition, nor is a single cause responsible for all types. 

There’s no surefire way to avoid arthritic conditions. Some are genetic in nature, while others are related to age or injury. The best you can do is reduce your risk of some types of joint disorders. 

Metro Anesthesia & Pain Management specializes in helping our patients with the effects of arthritis. We provide treatment, medication, and information to help you cope with symptoms and lower your risk of deterioration, since many arthritis types are incurable and degenerative. 

Common types of arthritis

By far, osteoarthritis is the dominant form of arthritis, a wear-and-tear disease that increases in probability with each passing year. 

Rheumatoid arthritis is a distant second, an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks joints throughout your body, causing deterioration, pain, and mobility issues. 

Other arthritis types include gout, caused by a buildup of uric acid in the bloodstream, and psoriatic arthritis, which can accompany the skin condition psoriasis. Ankylosing spondylitis is marked by inflammation and the development of extra bone tissue that affects joint mobility. 

Arthritis treatment generally focuses on two strategies. The first is symptom management, relieving pain, inflammation, and other symptoms of the arthritis type you have. Secondly, treatment aims to interrupt the progression of degeneration to minimize further problems. 

Reducing your arthritis risks

Arthritis may strike in one form or another, no matter what lifestyle you adopt to avoid it. Some types are idiopathic, meaning there’s no recognizable reason why that form of arthritis begins. You can, though, reduce your risk of certain arthritis types. 

Osteoarthritis

Carrying extra pounds beyond your optimal body weight is a substantial risk factor for osteoarthritis. High body mass strains certain joints like the knees and hips, and this extra load can accelerate wear. 

Staying active can help minimize the progression and symptoms of osteoarthritis by stimulating healing blood flow and maintaining the strength of muscles that take some of the load away from the bones of your joints. 

Rheumatoid arthritis

Avoiding tobacco products or quitting when you already use them is the best defense against rheumatoid arthritis. Reducing your inhalation of other environmental pollutants can also help.

As with osteoarthritis, staying active and maintaining a healthy weight can avoid or slow a rheumatoid arthritis condition. 

Gout

Often caused by an excess of a substance called purines in your diet, gout can be managed by reducing your intake of alcohol, red meat, shellfish, and sugar. Drinking plenty of water helps your kidneys manage uric acid levels. 

Sometimes, improving arthritis symptoms depends on minimizing arthritis pain. That’s where we come in. Call or click to set up a consultation today with the professionals at Metro Anesthesia & Pain Management, with offices in West Des Moines and East Des Moines, Iowa.