Arthritis, translated from the Greek word athron means "joint", therefore, this disease is characterized by inflammation of the joint (or group of joints) that occurs in the synovial membrane of the joint.
This disease torments many inhabitants of our planet. However, preventing arthritis is a very real thing for everyone in need. As you know, a disease is easier to prevent than to treat for a long time, and not always successfully. The causes of arthrosis and arthritis, and prevention will be the subject of this article.
Causes of joint inflammation
The causes of arthrosis and arthritis can be different, for the most part they depend on the lifestyle, the nature of the labor function and other reasons.
The causes of this ailment are divided into:
- allergic
- traumatic;
- infectious;
- dystrophic;
- rheumatoid;
- reactive.
Allergic and traumatic arthritis
Allergic arthritis is a benign joint inflammation, which is a reaction of the body to a specific allergen. This arthritis is completely reversible. This type of arthritis can be caused by a certain food product, and medicine, and ticks. When treating allergies, arthritis goes away. Relapse may occur, but in the case of not aftercare, and in contact with the allergen.
Traumatic arthritis occurs as a consequence of some kind of trauma, or with constant slight injury.
Infectious and reactive arthritis
Infectious arthritis occurs due to infection, virus, ingestion of fungi or parasites. For example, hepatitis B.
Reactive arthritis is an inflammation of the joint that occurs after the transmission of certain infectious diseases, such as intestinal, nasopharyngeal, renal, as well as conjunctivitis and uveitis.
Dystrophic, rheumatoid arthritis
Dystrophic arthritis occurs with a degenerative change in the composition of the joint. The cause of this arthritis is a lack of vitamins, metabolic disorders, hypothermia, low mobility or, conversely, excessive physical stress.
Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by a systemic chronic form of the manifestation of a disease of connective tissue structures. In this case, small joints are affected. Subjected to this disease are people whose work is associated with constant loads on certain groups of joints.
How is arthritis treated?
In the diagnosis and treatment of certain arthritis, anti-inflammatory drugs are used, such as tablets, and injections or systems, massages, drugs with a regenerating and antispasmodic effect, and B vitamins. Warming and analgesic ointments are used. And also carry out joint replacement.
As a rule, drugs aimed at treating joints adversely affect the stomach. Often, ulcers, gastritis, refluxes are treated first, and after that - arthritis and arthrosis. Also, with medical treatment of joints, medications are prescribed to protect the gastric mucosa from burns and inflammation.
After treatment, prophylaxis of arthritis is necessary for normal functioning and preventing relapse.
General preventive measures
Prevention of arthritis and arthrosis is especially important for those who are at risk for their lifestyle, work, and nutrition. And also those people who have already suffered from this ailment and do not want a repeat of events.
Prevention of arthritis of the joints is as follows:
- Minimization, and better complete elimination of hypothermia of the joints.
- Wearing comfortable shoes, if there is a predisposition to these ailments, it is better to use orthopedic shoes or insoles. High heels are best avoided.
- All doctors say that in a sitting position you can’t cross your legs. And it is right. Crossing leads to stagnation of blood and motionless joints.
- Being overweight can also lead to joint inflammation. Need to follow him.
- Prevention of arthritis is a healthy regime of the day: sleep, rest, work - everything should be in moderation.
- Proper nutrition. As many foods as possible containing B vitamins. It is known that this vitamin cannot be accumulated "in reserve", getting into the body, it immediately begins to be consumed. More food containing fiber. And also people who are predisposed to these diseases need to eat more oily fish (cod, ivasi, trout).
- Drink more water, plain clean water. At least three liters per day. Often, diseases are caused by a lack of fluid in the body (these are salts, and inflammation, and thrombosis). Water is life!
- Moderate physical activity. For people leading a sedentary and sedentary lifestyle - gymnastics, which should be selected by a specialist.
- And the last rule - all diseases from nerves. Therefore, it is necessary to minimize stress.
Reactive Arthritis Prevention
Prevention of reactive arthritis is:
- First of all, in hygiene. This type of arthritis occurs with salmonella, clostridia, dysentery and other viruses that affect the digestive tract. If you eat thermally processed foods, then the risk of contracting these diseases is reduced.
- Secondly, it is necessary to observe intimate hygiene, protecting yourself from sexually transmitted infections (chlamydia, ureaplasma and other microorganisms cause diseases of the urinary system).
- Third, proper, balanced nutrition - rich broths, fish, rich omega 3 (trout, tuna, mackerel, halibut), nuts, whole grains, flax seeds, beans, asparagus, parsley. It is also necessary to give up alcohol.
- And fourthly, periodic monitoring by doctors.
Preventive measures for rheumatoid arthritis
Prevention of rheumatoid arthritis is in two ways:
- The first is general prevention for people affected by this disease.
- The second is the prevention of relapse and exacerbations in those people who already suffer from some form of manifestation of this disease.
The first type of prevention is:
- In the treatment of any infectious diseases (from acute respiratory infections to more serious diseases, such as HIV).
- Remediation of any inflammation (treatment of caries, tonsillitis).
- In strengthening immunity - the body's defenses.
- In a healthy lifestyle (food, sleep, work, rest, physical education, gymnastics, quitting alcohol and smoking).
A second type of prevention is presented in:
- Reception of anti-inflammatory medicines and injections aimed at restoring joint fluid and cartilage. It is also necessary not to forget about vitamin complexes, both in tablets and in injections.
- Gymnastic events that a specialist should choose. In addition to gymnastics, cycling, walking, swimming are used to prevent rheumatoid arthritis. However, before using this or that method of prevention, consultation with a specialist - a rheumatologist is necessary.
- Dietary nutrition (fruits, berries, omega3 fatty acids).
- Also, to prevent this ailment, you can use canned compresses from the pharmacy bile. To do this, you need to take gauze or cotton cloth, moisten it well with bile, put on a sore spot, and create a vacuum with parchment. Ideally, this compress should be left for a day, periodically wetting it with bile, as it dries. But you can use it for 8-10 hours. By the way, this method is used not only as a prophylaxis of rheumatoid arthritis, but also in the treatment of arthritis and arthrosis in the early stages.
Hand Arthritis Prevention
Arthritis of the hands and fingers is a disease that occurs in every seventh inhabitant of the planet, and women are five times more likely to suffer from this ailment. To the question "why are women?", But because it is they who most often do any work with their hands (cooking, sewing, working at a computer, etc.).
Arthritis in these joints is manifested as follows:
- Pain in the fingers and hands with the usual actions (the pain is accompanied by burning, tingling and a pulling sensation).
- Joint pain before changing weather, atmospheric pressure drops, eclipses.
- Stiff hands, especially after waking up.
- The skin around the affected joint becomes red, hot and swollen.
- Symmetrical damage to the joints is observed.
- When you move your hands and fingers you can hear a creak, but not the same as simple finger clicks.
- Fatigue, irritability, weakness.
- In general, arthritis of the hands and fingers is an unpleasant phenomenon at any stage (there are 4 stages), and if the disease is started and not treated, then you can get disability and stop serving yourself.
And in order to prevent these unpleasant consequences, the prevention of hand arthritis is necessary:
- Any infection that enters the body must be treated to the end.
- Reception of vitamin-mineral complexes aimed at nutrition of the joints with the necessary substances in full.
- Occupation with sports exercises, which should be individually selected by the doctor.
- Strengthening immunity, the body's ability to fight viruses.
- Maintaining weight in an adequate condition (this applies to large and missing weight).
- Prevention of arthritis is impossible without a vitamin diet rich in vitamins "B", "D", Calcium. Mandatory consumption of fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts.
Finally
Arthritis is a fairly widespread disease on our planet. As it became clear, it occurs, first of all, due to inflammatory processes. Therefore, its main prevention is the timely complete treatment of any viral or infectious disease. They got sick once, got sick two, three, four ... They suffered a disease on their legs, did not heal or did not properly treat it ... And then, with age, such sad consequences as arthritis and arthrosis occur. They have to be treated for a long time, persistently and it is not always possible to cope with the disease to the end, very often it goes into the chronic stage. And this is constantly aching pain in the joints, it pulls, it hurts, it hurts in the weather. And sometimes this disease leads to disability and self-care.
Prevention and treatment of arthritis should be prescribed by a doctor, it is better if it is a rheumatologist, and under his supervision. However, it is always necessary to remember - the salvation of a drowning man, the work of the drowning man himself. Until a person wants to be healthy and begins to lead a healthy lifestyle, eat right , combine his life with adequate physical activity, he will not be healthy. Prevention of arthritis is the key to a long and painless life.