Arthritis Prevention - Everything You Need to Know

Arthritis preventioin starts here.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the word “arthritis” actually means joint inflammation and is used to describe more than 100 rheumatic diseases and conditions that affect joints, the tissues which surround the joint and other connective tissue.

The symptoms and causes of arthritis vary depending on the specific form of the disease. Some forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, septic arthritis, gout, pseudogout, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Still's disease and ankylosing spondylitis.

Although there are differences in causes, symptoms and even degree of severity, all of the forms of arthritis have some things in common. They cause pain, stiffness and swelling of the joints, joint lining, joint cartilage and connective tissues surrounding the joints. If not treated, the damage caused by arthritis can lead to physical deformities, joint weakness and instability.

While there are many different types of treatment that can significantly decrease the symptoms of arthritis, there is no known cure for the disease. Thus, the best thing that we can do is to reduce the risk of developing this disease.

Several steps can be taken to prevent arthritis from occurring, these include controlling weight, regular exercise and eating a balanced diet. Controlling weight or maintaining a healthy weight may help  lessen the stress or strain on the joints, especially in the knees.

Regular exercise is another preventive measure against arthritis. Exercise can provide strength to the joints and help maintain healthy muscle tone. Walking and other weight-bearing exercises can also help prevent osteoarthritis by increasing the strength of the muscles that support the joints.

Lastly, a balanced diet can help reduce the risks of the potential for arthritis because it will provide the  natural vitamins and nutrients needed by the body to function normally.