Unveiling the Mystery of Osteoarthritis: What is Osteoarthritis?

Over the past 20 years, the number of people suffering from joint diseases in my country has been increasing, with osteoarthritis being the most common. There are certain misconceptions about osteoarthritis among the public, and awareness of arthritis and its harmful effects needs to be improved, even though osteoarthritis is already very common in daily life. Currently, more than half of people over 60 years old in my country suffer from this disease. Osteoarthritis caused by improper exercise and injuries is also becoming increasingly common among young people, showing a trend of osteoarthritis affecting younger people.

I. What is osteoarthritis?

In simple terms, it's what we commonly call joint aging or bone spurs; in medical terms, it's the damage and wear down of a layer of white cartilage on the surface of the joint, leading to the symptoms that follow.

II. Characteristics of Osteoarthritis

The following groups of people are more prone to developing the disease:

Overweight; genetic predisposition; inappropriate exercise methods; history of trauma.

III. Symptoms of Arthritis

Early symptoms are not obvious, such as joint pain when going up or down stairs, or pain after climbing mountains or long-distance travel. As it progresses, pain may occur when walking, indicating that the degree or extent of joint degeneration is more extensive. A typical feature is rest pain.

IV. Arthritis Damage

According to the latest research, if arthritis patients are unable to walk due to pain, their incidence of cardiovascular disease increases significantly, meaning their mortality rate from cardiovascular disease also increases. Studies show that if lower limb osteoarthritis patients are unable to walk less than one kilometer, their cardiovascular disease mortality rate is significantly higher than those who walk more than one kilometer.

V. How to effectively prevent osteoarthritis through daily habits and diet?

1. Avoid climbing mountains and stairs.

Not climbing or climbing less doesn't mean absolutely no climbing, because hiking or some outdoor activities are beneficial to the cardiovascular system. However, if you experience joint pain, you should limit your activities. If you belong to a low-risk patient group, doing these exercises appropriately can be beneficial.

2. Controlling weight

Because excessive weight can affect joints and the cardiovascular system, weight must be controlled.

3. Joint injuries should be treated promptly.

Many joint injuries are ligament damage, which can be treated. However, if the damage is not treated properly and complications arise, it will affect our joints in the long run.

4. Dietary supplements to strengthen bones, and glucosamine sulfate medication.

In terms of diet, after reaching a certain age, you can eat some foods that increase bone strength, such as foods high in calcium, to enhance support for your joints; other medications, such as glucosamine sulfate, can also help with arthritis.

VI. How to manage and treat osteoarthritis

Once symptoms appear, it's important to seek diagnosis at a reputable hospital. The most common method for diagnosis is an X-ray. However, when a standard X-ray shows osteoarthritis, the arthritis is usually not in its very early stages. Therefore, when symptoms are present, an MRI of the knee joint can also be performed for a clearer diagnosis.

VII. Treatment of osteoarthritis is divided into three stages.

1. Non-pharmacological treatment

Control your weight by getting physical therapy and applying heat.

2. Drug treatment

The medications are generally cartilage-nourishing drugs or health supplements; the second most common are anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-swelling drugs.

3. Surgical treatment

Arthroscopy: For patients with early-stage osteoarthritis or those with meniscus damage or loose bodies, minimally invasive surgeries such as arthroscopy can be performed for treatment.

Artificial joint replacement: In the later stages, the pain becomes uncontrollable, and severe deformities may even occur.

Ultimately, we want to tell everyone that proper exercise and a healthy lifestyle are essential; if symptoms appear, seek medical attention early for early diagnosis, intervention, and treatment. We hope everyone can stay away from illness and always have healthy joints!