Millions of People Struggle With Osteoarthritis in the UK and US

(Newswire.net — July 19, 2017) Orlando, FL — For individuals with osteoarthritis, it could be extremely difficult to live painlessly on a daily basis. While governments and international health organizations have been taking measures to reduce the prevalence of the condition, it appears that the number of sufferers still increases worldwide.

Millions of people struggle with osteoarthritis in the United Kingdom and the United States. There are two types of osteoarthritis, namely the primary and secondary.

Primary osteoarthritis affects joints that are previously healthy. In most cases, it affects individuals over the age of 50. According to statistics, by the age of 65, at least half of the population have this kind of osteoarthritis in certain joints.

Research also reveals that 1 in 10 individuals over the age of 65 suffer from major disability due to the condition. The areas of the body often affected are the hips and knees.

Secondary osteoarthritis, on the other hand, occurs in the joints that have previously suffered from injury, deformity, or damage. It normally affects the younger population.

Aside from the hips and knees, this condition could also affect the joints in the thumb, finger, and lower spine. The areas least affected by osteoarthritis are the elbows, shoulders, ankles, wrists, and toes.

Stiffness, pain, and physical limitations are among the symptoms of this arthritic condition. Stiffness usually worsens in the morning. It could also lead to swelling and inflammation.

There are arthritis sufferers whose affected joint looks a bit larger than the usual. This is believed to be due to the overgrowth of the bone adjacent to damaged cartilage.

It is also worth mentioning that osteoarthritis is less likely to cause deformities of the joints. Individuals with osteoarthritis may also have poor mobility and tend to have problems walking, especially when the hip or knee is badly affected.

Osteoarthritis could even make one susceptible to falls and other injuries. Individuals who suffer from bad osteoarthritis in the hip may even find it hard to put on shoes and socks.

There are also sufferers who don’t suffer from any symptom at all, even if the X-ray results demonstrate the occurrence of some degree of osteoarthritis.

Due to these symptoms, there are many sufferers who are unable to sleep well, work, or carry out household tasks. There are even those who succumb to depression due to pain as well as other symptoms.

Proper treatments should be able to target certain goals. An excellent treatment approach should help sufferers understand this type of condition and how it can be managed.

It should also be able to decrease symptoms, such as pain and stiffness as well as improve the mobility of the joints that are affected by the condition.  It is similarly important that the remedy is able to limit joint damage as well as minimize the risk of disability.

An appropriate treatment should also be able to reduce the risk of side effects. Medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a popular treatment for osteoarthritis.

These pharmaceutical drugs could ease pain and fight inflammation on a temporary basis. However, it is important to understand that their use has been linked with side effects.

Some of the safer alternatives for pharmaceutical drugs are exercise, weight control, and the use of natural remedies. One of these remedies is glucosamine, which is believed to have a high potential to repair cartilage damage.

There are many osteoarthritis sufferers who use glucosamine instead of pain relievers. It is safer to use, and has the potential to improve overall joint health.

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