How to Prevent Arthritis

  • Arthritis
    Arthritis is often seen as a disease that affects the elderly but it can affect people of all ages. According to the Arthritis Foundation, two-thirds of people with arthritis are under the age of 65. And more people in their late 30s and 40s are now being diagnosed with the condition 
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 6 July 2015

Can it be prevented

  • Maintain your ideal weight: Increased weight on the load-bearing joints, like knees, ankles and hips, makes you highly susceptible to osteoarthritis. Losing weight cuts the risk of arthritis.
  • Exercise regularly: Try to exercise at least 20 minutes for three days a week if exercise is vigorous, or 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week. Practice yoga or simple stretching. These exercises strengthen the muscles around joints.
  • Quit smoking, as it weakens bone health and structure
  • Avoid excess alcohol consumption: This habit is similar to smoking as it weakens vitamin absorption and bone structure.
  • Drink plenty of water (1.9 litres of water per day)
  • Increase your calcium intake (milk, cheese and yoghurt)
Community
Muscle, Bone and Joint (earlier named Arthritis)
Condition
Arthritis
Changed
Wed, 07/05/2017 - 20:49

Stories

  • A profile pic of an Indian woman in a blue dress
    गठिया के प्रबंधन के लिए सक्रिय रहें!
    रीटा मेहता, 65 को लगभग 20 साल पहले जोड़ों का दर्द और वैरिकाज़ वेंस शुरू हुआ था। इसने उनकी चाल और जीवन शैली पर कइ प्रतिबंध लगा दिये गये । निदान हुआ गठिया का । वह उन विभिन्न समाधानों की बात करती है जो उन्होंने अपनाए और आखिरकार क्या काम आया। प्रारंभिक लक्षण 1990 में, मैं अपने बेटे के साथ यूएस में डिज्नीलैंड का दौरा कर रही थी । मुझे याद है कि हर जगह लंबी कतारों के कारण बहुत खड़ा होना पड़ा और हमारे लौटने के तुरंत बाद, मुझे अपने दोनों पैरों में वैरिकाज़ नसों का । निदान हुआ । उसके बाद दो साल तक, मैं…
  • How can rheumatic patients manage lupus, scleroderma auto immune conditions during covid
    Webinar: How to Manage Rheumatological Conditions During Covid-19 Pandemic
    This webinar held on 30th March, 2020 was an informative session with Dr Sapan C Pandya on how patients who are living with a rheumatological conditions can manage their condition during this current pandemic and lockdown period. Are people with Rheumatic diseases more vulnerable than others to the COVID infection? There is no evidence that people who have immunosuppressant diseases will get the corona virus infection more than others. They may be more susceptible for complications once they…
  • My Approaches To Managing Chronic Pain
    Soumita Basu has been living with the chronic pain associated with Psoriatic Arthritis for almost 10 years. She shares her experience of managing the pain and what works for her.  Chronic pain can be debilitating. It can be isolating. And it is almost always inexplicable. As I write this, I am in excruciating pain. And I recall all the pain stories I have heard from people suffering from chronic pain. Pain that fogs the mind and makes me second guess everything. Sometimes, the question is…
  • A profile pic of an Indian woman in a blue dress
    Stay Active For Arthritis
    Rita Mehta, 65 started having joint pains and varicose veins about 20 years ago. These restricted her movement and lifestyle. And led to a diagnosis of Arthritis. She talks through the variety of solutions she tried and what eventually worked for her.  Initial Symptoms In 1990, I was visiting the Disneyland in US with my son. I remember a lot of standing due to long queues everywhere and soon after our return, I was diagnosed with varicose veins in both my legs. For two years after that, I…
  • Diet Changes That Helped Them Manage Chronic Conditions
    Diet changes are an integral part of management of many chronic conditions. Here are real life experiences of eight women who incorporated diet and nutrition changes in their disease management regimen.  Celiac Disease When Jeeva Anna George was diagnosed with Celiac disease, an uncommon digestive disorder causing inflammation of the small intestine, her whole life began revolving around food. Here she talks at length about her personal journey and how she learnt the hard way to control…
  • A young woman against a scenic backdrop of a lake and mountains
    How Diet And Lifestyle Changes Helped Me Beat Rheumatoid Arthritis
    Pallavi is a Bangalore-based ecommerce professional who was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis 4 years ago. She shares how she made diet and lifestyle changes to manage the condition. Last month, I went to my friend's son's birthday party; he was turning 8. After the cake was cut, when we all sat down to eat, all the kids were served pizza and garlic bread with cheese dip. I sat among the kids and took out my tiffin from my bag and started eating my millets upma. All the kids stared at me as…
  • A woman in a beige top holding the small of her back which is marked red to indicate back pain looking at a laptop on the table in front of her
    Ankylosing spondylitis : An Overlooked Cause Of Back Pain
    Dr. Pravin Patil, Rheumatologist gives a comprehensive overview of Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and how it is different from spondylosis and regular back pain, tips on managing this condition and the role of exercise.   Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a disease of young adults. Regrettably, ankylosing spondylitis has very little identity unto its own. Anything with “spondylitis” is considered to be linked with old age or simple ‘wear and tear’. Adding the prefix “ankylosing”…
  • The hands of a medical professional in a white coat and blue gloves examining the deformed hand of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis
    7 Common Mistakes Of Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication
    Dr Pravin Patil, Rheumatologist from Pune, Maharasthtra shares the top 7 mistakes that people with Rheumatoid Arthritis with respect to their medications. People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are commonly prescribed several medications. It is very important to take medications regularly and follow correct instructions. It is the responsibility of the patients to know their medications well and avoid making mistakes, which can have serious consequences. Mistake No. 1: You take Methotrexate…
  • Image: Fingers pointing at a Bone Scan Image
    When To Get A Bone Scan?
    What is a Bone Scan? What do the results of the scan indicate? When do you need a Bone Scan? How often should you get a Bone Scan? We give you information that will help you discuss your options with your doctor. What is a Bone Scan  A Bone scan is done to check the bone mineral density (BMD) so as to assess strength of the bones and probability of any fractures. The scan helps identify any mild (osteopenia) or serious bone loss (osteoporosis). The most common bone density test is the DEXA…
  • Yoga For Arthritis EBooks - Vol 1 and Vol 2
    Coping with Arthritis? Stiffness in hips and knees? Stiff toes or stiff ankles? Upper body aches and pains? Stiffness in waist, back, hips, shoulders, neck? How can you ease the stiffness in your joints? Yoga is effective in managing arthritis. It reduces pain, increases flexibility, and lowers stress. It brings harmony to body and mind. We have worked with Divyayog to create a set of asanas for you to do in the comfort of your own home.  The asanas are organised in 2 ebooks. Please…