How to Minimize the Risk Of Developing Arthritis

by ShellyManning | May 5, 2010 1:01 am

We should focus on what we can control and accept what we cannot.

A fact of life that is applicable to arthritis, as well. Arthritis is painful, a fact no one knows more about than an arthritis patient. Arthritis patients know too well that some days are more painful than others, and on worst days doing simple activities, such as typing on computers, or climbing stairs can seem impossible.

So, what are the causes of arthritis and can we do something to minimize the risk of developing arthritis?

Common causes of arthritis

There are many causes of arthritis. While some are beyond our control, there are others that can be controlled through awareness and taking adequate precautionary measures.

• The Family History Factor – If someone in your immediate family has arthritis, your chances of developing arthritis increase.
• The Age Factor – As you grow older, your body’s strength diminishes and it becomes brittle. Aging leads to weak joints, increasing the risk of arthritis.
• The Weight Factor – The more the body weight, the greater is the pressure on the lower joints. Our lower joints, such as hips, knees, and the lower back bear bulk of the stress when we do any kind of physical activity, including walking. More pressure on joints means more wear and tear. And… more wear and tear causes the cartilage in the joints to break, making them weak and increasing the chance of developing arthritis.
• The Injury Factor – Injuries around the joints also increase the chances of developing arthritis in future. If you have a broken bone, it affects the bone structure and cartilage. As a result, more pressure is put on your joints, which can lead to arthritis. For instance, when you break a leg, additional pressure is put on your other leg that adversely affects those joints.
• The Job Factor – The kind of job you do can also be a determining factor in developing arthritis. For instance, people who do construction jobs or work on computers throughout the day, invariably end up putting a lot of pressure on their joints and thus are at an increased risk of developing arthritis.
• The Physical Stress Factor – People who participate in high-contact sports, such as football have a higher chance of developing arthritis. The reason is not hard to comprehend, football players put a lot of stress on their bodies and their joints go through a lot of wear and tear during the course of their career. In fact, studies show that an average football’s player career is not more than seven years because of the injuries and constant wear and tear of joints.

In addition to the aforementioned factors, people who suffer from gout, joint infections and other similar conditions are also at a greater risk of developing arthritis.

We can’t do much about our pedigree or prevent aging. Similarly, we cannot do much about the job we have. What we can do is to control our weight and be aware of the long-term implications of certain activities. Through awareness we can take measures to avoid conditions that can lead to arthritis. For instance, if you are in a job that puts you at an increased risk of developing arthritis, you can take preventive measures to help you ease the load you put on your joints. Similarly, if you suffer from frequent joint infections, you can take steps to avoid conditions that cause the infections.

By preventing and considering the long-term effects of certain activities, we can minimize the risk of developing arthritis. A lot of information regarding natural remedies of arthritis is available; you only need to look for it in the right places.

Blue Heron Health News has recently released a new natural arthritis guide. Check it out here…[1]

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Source URL: http://blueheronhealthnews.com/site/2010/05/05/reducing-your-chances-of-developing-arthritis/

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