Arthritis is an inflammatory reaction that affects the body. The mechanism of development of arthritis can be different. Most often, this is an autoimmune lesion of the joints (this means that the immune system begins to damage the human body’s own tissues) or an infectious lesion, and there may also be a combined lesion.
Prevention of arthritis is aimed at preventing the development of joint diseases. As a result, this will prolong the youth of your joints, so you can move for a long time without pain. Hygienists have developed special preventive principles. They will help keep your own joints healthy.
Prevention of joint arthritis is based on the following principles:
Carrying out preventive measures is indicated for all people, but those who are classified as at high risk for joint diseases especially need them. In the latter case, they must follow absolutely all the principles recommended by doctors. This will minimize the adverse effects of external and internal factors on the condition of the joints.
Identification of high-risk groups for diseases of the musculoskeletal system will make it possible to actively carry out preventive measures in this category of people. In addition, they will be under the close attention of a doctor, so any pathological process in the joints will be diagnosed at the initial stage.
The following people should be included in the high-risk group:
Nutrition is the main source of nutrients entering the body. However, there may also be substances that have a negative impact on human health. Therefore, it is very important to choose a diet that will help your body resist various negative influences.
In this regard, proper (healthy) nutrition should be based on the following principles:
Scientists have proven the benefits of oranges for improving joint health. People who ate one orange a day did not know what arthritis and other joint problems were for a long time. The mechanism of the therapeutic effect of orange on joints has not been fully established.
Healthy eating should become a way of life, that is, a person should eat this way every day. If this happens sporadically, then you should not count on a preventive result. In addition, proper nutrition will not only improve the condition of your joints, but will also help normalize your weight. And this is especially true for those people who are overweight, which is a risk factor for joint diseases. Thus, proper nutrition helps to influence several causative factors that lead to various joint diseases.
Exercises within the framework of therapeutic exercises involve a dosed effect on the joints - it should not be too large, but not too small. Physical exercise will improve the structure of cartilage tissue and also improve blood supply to the joints.
There is a special set of exercises that is performed directly during the main work, for example, when working at the computer. The only condition for performing them is to keep your posture straight. Typically, these exercises are recommended to be performed twice during the working day, and in the evening it is advisable to do full exercises. Ideally, a set of physical exercises should be developed by a specialist in the field of sports medicine. This will improve the effectiveness of preventive measures.
Physical exercise should not be accompanied by increased stress on the joints. The same rule is also true for a person’s daily life - lifting weights more than the permissible limit should be avoided, but it must be done correctly. You should not carry bags in one hand; the load should be distributed evenly between two hands. It is also necessary to limit the forced position of the spine in one position for a long time. This will prevent the development of osteochondrosis.
Strengthening the muscle corset through therapeutic exercises will help avoid joint instability. This will prevent improper relationship of the articular surfaces to each other. And this is the key to their normal functioning, especially if there is hypermobility of the joints, that is, their increased mobility.
In conclusion, it should be noted that joint diseases are one of the reasons that leads to limited mobility of a person or his complete immobility. Therefore, the need for preventive measures becomes clear. They will help maintain normal joint function for a long time. Carrying out preventive measures is recommended especially in high-risk groups, which can be identified both by a doctor and by the person himself. The main thing is that these activities must be regular in order to achieve good results. And as you know, prevention is the key to a person’s well-being.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the synovial membranes (thin membranes that completely cover the joints). The joints most commonly affected are the wrists, fingers, knees, feet and elbows. People who have rheumatoid arthritis are at higher risk of developing other diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis.
Unfortunately, there is no definitive cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but taking regular medications and living a healthy lifestyle can help relieve symptoms and stop further joint damage. In some cases, medications can help put rheumatoid arthritis into remission, and symptoms may disappear completely.
For rheumatoid arthritis, it is important to start treatment early. Drug treatment can stop the destruction of joints. Most often, doctors prescribe corticosteroids and cytostatics to reduce inflammation and return the disease to remission. However, long-term use of corticosteroids increases the risk of osteoporosis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce joint pain, but do not stop the progression of the disease. Long-term use may cause stomach problems.
The most popular medications to treat the disease include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil). Relatively recently, osteopaths began to actively prescribe biological agents - drugs designed to slow down the process of joint damage. Anakinra stops the production of the protein interleukin, and abatacept stops the generation of white blood cells in the body.
If the joint is seriously damaged, surgery may be required. The most successful surgeries are on the knees and hips. Sometimes it becomes necessary to completely replace the joint with an artificial one. With the help of endoprosthetics, you can restore the mobility of the knee or hip joint and improve the quality of life.
We should not forget that no matter how effective the treatment is, the disease cannot be completely eradicated, which means that a lot of attention needs to be paid to the prevention of rheumatoid arthritis.
What should be the lifestyle of a person with such a diagnosis? First of all, it is necessary to perform daily physical exercises - consisting of aerobic exercise and general strengthening activities that develop flexibility and strength. Exercise also helps relieve pain and maintain a healthy weight. A physical therapist should help create an exercise program for each individual patient. Doctors often recommend race walking, swimming, or cycling for people with rheumatoid arthritis.
It's worth starting with 30 minutes of aerobic exercise 5 days a week. Regular hydrotherapy is recommended for people suffering from severe pain. For example, sulfur-containing mud baths eliminate almost all symptoms of arthritis. Positive changes after hydrotherapy include: improved joint movement, increased muscle strength, cessation of muscle spasms, pain relief.
When preventing rheumatoid arthritis, special attention should be paid to nutrition. Junk foods can contribute to inflammation. Although diet cannot cure rheumatoid arthritis, many patients report pain relief when incorporating plenty of berries, fruits, vegetables, and nuts into their diet (except for nightshade plants such as tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and eggplant). You should eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
Foods such as white bread, pasta and sugar should be avoided. When cooking, use healthy cooking fats such as olive or vegetable oil. Completely avoiding snacks, crackers, cakes, donuts, caffeine, alcohol and tobacco will help your joints. That is, you should avoid foods high in saturated fat and high in sugar. The best drink would be 6 - 8 glasses of filtered water per day. Omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce inflammation. You need to include soybeans, rapeseed oil, flax seeds and pumpkin seeds in your diet. Omega-3 acids can also reduce the harmful effects of corticosteroids, which are often prescribed to treat rheumatoid arthritis. They may also reduce the risk of heart disease. But don't forget that Omega-3 fatty acids can increase the risk of bleeding.
No matter how scary the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis may seem, you should not focus only on the fact that the disease is incurable. It is necessary to strictly adhere to the doctor’s recommendations, regularly take prescribed medications, and also do not forget about daily exercise and a healthy diet. Such comprehensive efforts to prevent the disease will quickly become a habit, which means that rheumatoid arthritis will not remind you of itself with joint pain.
Rheumatoid arthritis is treated by a rheumatologist. Additionally, the patient is examined by a physiotherapist, a specialist in physical therapy and massage.
Erosive arthritis is an immune-inflammatory process with irreversible changes in the joints. Erosions occur with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthropathy. What is the mechanism of their appearance?
The cells of the body begin to produce antibodies against the microorganisms that caused the pathological process. Due to increased production and disruption of normal outflow, the amount of synovial fluid in the joint increases and swelling occurs. Due to the similarity of the protein structure of cartilage tissue and foreign microorganisms, antibodies begin to “eat” the cartilage and then the bone tissue of the joint. Osteolysis occurs - the destruction of bone and cartilage. Defects in the cartilage and bone structure—erosions—are formed, and the articular surface ceases to be even and perfectly smooth. When defects in the articular surfaces become pronounced, a joint deformity is formed.
Unfortunately, these are irreversible changes. There is no way to get rid of them. With proper treatment, you can only stop the further development of the disease and the destruction of the affected tissue.
Additional mechanisms of erosion formation:
There are several types of bone erosions:
In rheumatoid arthritis, the first erosions form in the area of the II, III metacarpophalangeal joints, in the area of the styloid process of the ulna (at the site of tendon attachment), interphalangeal, and wrist joints of the hand. The carpometacarpal joint I is a “happy exception” in which pathological changes do not form for a long time.
For rheumatoid arthritis, symmetry of the lesion is typical. In advanced cases, with a long course of the disease, complete destruction of the articular surface occurs. Against this background, deformations arise that are the “calling card” of the disease (the position of the fingers in the form of a “swan neck”, their valgus deviation in the metacarpophalangeal joints), dislocations, subluxations, and contractures are formed.
Factors that increase the likelihood of developing erosions in rheumatoid arthritis, indicating high activity of the inflammatory process:
Pain syndrome is not a determining factor. With intense and prolonged pain, the joint can remain intact for a long time.
The following methods are used to detect erosive arthritis:
Radiography is the most common diagnostic method. This is the cheapest and at the same time quite accurate way to detect changes in the articular surfaces. MRI and CT will allow us to identify erosive changes already in the initial stages.
To prevent erosive changes in the articular surfaces you need to:
Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis should begin as early as possible. It is optimal if this happens before erosions form. If you are late, the maximum that can be achieved is to prevent further destruction of articular tissues. The changes that have already occurred are, unfortunately, irreversible.
You need to visit a rheumatologist several times a year. This is necessary for a full examination, timely detection of pathological changes in bone and cartilage tissue, and proper treatment.
To maintain joint mobility, you should engage in exercise therapy, swimming, and perform feasible physical activity. Movement stimulates the production of intraarticular fluid. The latter nourishes the cartilaginous surface and removes metabolic products from the synovial cavity.
To reduce the load on the affected joints, it is recommended to use orthopedic devices: a cane, knee pads, elbow pads.
The development of erosions can be observed not only with rheumatoid arthritis. They also appear in other forms.
With psoriatic arthropathy, skin changes are combined with articular ones. The lesions are asymmetrical, multidirectional deformations are formed. Damage to the sacroiliac joints, hand bones, and spine is typical. First, marginal erosions form, then they spread to the central part of the articular surfaces. Osteolysis of the epiphyses of bones occurs. This type of arthritis is also called mutilating arthritis. A distinctive feature is the presence of bone growths (proliferations) near erosions.
Such arthritis can be recognized by skin changes and characteristic deformation of the joints, recognized using radiography, MRI, and CT.
The disease is rare but aggressive. Affects postmenopausal women. Not only does intense bone loss occur, but, alas, articular surfaces can also be destroyed. Most often it affects the symmetrical joints of the hands. Diagnosed based on patient complaints and X-ray data.
Patients complain of morning pain, stiffness in the joints, swelling does not always appear, and may be temporary.
Joint pain associated with arthritis is usually accompanied by swelling around the joint and a change in the appearance of the joint.
There are several types of arthritis. Each of them has its own characteristics that distinguish it from others. The most common is osteoarthritis. There are several types of inflammatory arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis, gout and infectious arthritis.
Gout is a metabolic disease, often hereditary, and 9-10 times more common in men than women. Attacks of gout usually affect only one joint, often the knees and elbows.
Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory arthritis that usually begins slowly over months or years. The most commonly affected joints are the knees, hips and hand joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis occurs in young patients and affects several joints, often the hands.
Osteoarthritis can occur due to various factors, including wear and tear on the joint that occurs over time. As we age, joints “wear out” due to constant, long-term friction. Osteoarthritis is very common in older people. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs due to failures in the body's immune system. However, it is still unknown exactly why it appears.
Gout is the result of persistently elevated levels of uric acid in the body.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis can include swelling and changes in joint structure, which can lead to damage, pain and loss of joint function. Gout is characterized by severe joint pain, inflammation and redness of the joint. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include swelling, redness, tenderness and loss of function, as well as joint damage.
A variety of devices can be used to support joints and improve their condition: splints, tourniquets, bandages, arch supports, and heel supports can reduce stress on joints and relieve pain.
Exercise your joints. Physical activity (moderate, of course) reduces pain, makes joints more flexible and improves the overall condition of the body. The amount and type of load depend on which joints are inflamed and the degree of the disease. You should consult your doctor regarding the amount and type of exercise.
Try to reduce the amount of stress, relax, listen to music. Physical activity is also one of the means to combat stress. If you are overweight, you need to lose weight. Excess weight can cause pain in the knees and pelvic joints. Avoid alcoholic beverages and foods rich in animal fats and proteins.
The doctor must make an accurate diagnosis or refer you to a rheumatologist for a more complete examination and selection of treatment, but may immediately prescribe medications for arthritis. Over-the-counter medications are usually simple remedies for arthritic pain. There are mainly two types of drugs used: pain relievers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These medications reduce inflammation and swelling of the joints and relieve pain. Be sure to tell your doctor about all over-the-counter drugs you take.
For gout, your doctor will prescribe a medicine that blocks the formation of uric acid.
The exact causes of rheumatoid arthritis are unknown, but genetic and hormonal problems are possible triggers.
There are many causes of osteoarthritis, including natural wear and tear on joints. Taking care of your body, controlling weight, regular exercise, and avoiding stress and injury can delay the onset of osteoarthritis. Losing even a few extra pounds can significantly reduce the stress on your joints.
Sudden attacks of gout can be prevented by:
- maintain a balanced diet;
- Visit your doctor regularly to monitor your uric acid levels.
It is possible to prevent the appearance and development of arthritis. It is necessary to follow simple rules that will prevent various joint diseases from developing in the body. First of all, it's proper nutrition.
The food should be different, you need to reduce the consumption of meat products, as well as fats. Prevention of arthritis requires consumption of vegetables, fruits, and cereals. It is important to limit the consumption of sugar, salt, and carbonated drinks. And of course, you must not drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes.
Therapeutic gymnastics is very useful. Regularly performing special exercises is necessary in order to prevent the development of arthritis. There are also specific in-office exercises for physical therapy.
The main thing is to maintain correct posture. The computer should be located at arm's length, and you should not strain your neck and back. Do not neglect these tips and risk getting sick. This prevention of arthritis will help maintain the stability of the musculoskeletal system, as well as the functionality of the joints and the strength of the bones.
With age, the chance of developing arthritis increases, so preventing arthritis requires special attention from a young age.
People who:
According to statistics, people with rheumatoid, gouty and some other types of arthritis are much more susceptible to developing arterial hypertension than healthy people. High blood pressure, in turn, significantly increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other serious diseases. Therefore, the prevention and treatment of hypertension in patients with arthritis is so relevant today.
People suffering from chronic inflammation of the joints need to regularly monitor their blood pressure, making sure that it does not exceed the permissible limit (140/90 mmHg). To do this, it is necessary not only to follow the doctor’s recommendations and take all prescribed medications, but also to lead a healthy lifestyle with arthritis. A balanced diet, proper regimen and adequate physical activity will help avoid the development of arterial hypertension, slow down the progression of arthritis and significantly improve a person’s well-being.
Recently, many studies have been conducted that examined the effect of chronic joint inflammation on blood pressure. To date, it has been established that arterial hypertension in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is much more common than in the general population. Moreover, the likelihood of an excessive increase in pressure directly depends on the activity of the pathological process in the joints. Therefore, the more severe the form of arthritis a person has, the higher the likelihood of developing arterial hypertension.
The presence of both hypertension and deforming osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis) in elderly people significantly accelerates the progression of both diseases. This combination very often leads to calcium metabolism disorders and the development of osteoporosis. Therefore, replacement therapy (calcium supplements) is recommended for people with hypertension and osteoarthritis.
As you know, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids are used to treat most arthritis. When used systemically, these drugs slightly increase blood pressure. Long-term treatment with these drugs can lead to the development of arterial hypertension.
The mechanism of action of angiotensin-2.
In addition, regular pain and chronic inflammation contribute to increased blood pressure in patients with arthritis. The latter leads to disruption of the normal functioning of the vascular endothelium, which contributes to the development of atherosclerosis. Damaged endothelium tends to synthesize excess amounts of angiotensin-2, a substance that increases blood pressure.
As a rule, arterial hypertension develops with a long course of rheumatoid polyarthritis. Chronic inflammation and regular use of NSAIDs (Diclofecac, Ibuprofen, Indomethacin) contribute to the development of this pathology. Methotrexate (a drug widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis) reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
This disease mainly affects older people. They most often affect the hip, knee, elbow and other large joints. This, in turn, leads to limitation of physical activity. It is difficult for a person to walk, work, or perform usual activities. An inactive lifestyle contributes to the development of coronary heart disease and hypertension. Therefore, people with osteoarthritis are much more likely to suffer from cardiovascular pathology.
Rheumatism is a systemic inflammatory disease in which rheumatic carditis very often develops.
In acute rheumatic arthritis, blood pressure may increase due to severe intoxication. However, inflammatory damage to the heart muscle is more dangerous for humans. This can lead to heart failure, acquired heart defects and other serious complications.
The main cause of hypertension in this disease is persistent hyperuricemia - an increase in the level of uric acid salts in the blood. According to scientific research, this factor leads to increased blood pressure in almost half of people suffering from this disease.
Causes of hypertension in gout:
The main measure in the prevention of arterial hypertension is the judicious use of medications. Treatment must be carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor, and any pharmaceuticals should be taken only with his permission. Among non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, preference should be given to selective COX-2 inhibitors - they are safer and much less likely to cause any side effects. These drugs include Meloxicam, Celecoxib, Xefocam.
It must be remembered that timely treatment of arthritis can significantly reduce the risk of developing hypertension. Therefore, measures such as following a diet for gout, avoiding hypothermia for rheumatoid arthritis and intense physical activity for osteoarthritis are so important.
To correct blood pressure, patients with arterial hypertension and arthritis should take drugs from the group of calcium antagonists or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. The first include Amlodipine, Verapamil, Diltiazem, Nifedipine. The most well-known ACE inhibitors are Enalapril, Captopril, Lisinopril. You can start treatment with these drugs only after consulting a specialist.
To prevent osteoporosis, people with deforming osteoarthritis need to ensure that a sufficient amount of calcium enters the body. When taking calcium supplements, you should take into account the risk of developing urolithiasis. Naturally, kidney pathology will only aggravate the course of hypertension and significantly worsen the person’s condition. Therefore, preference should be given to drugs based on calcium citrate or calcium hydroxyapatite (Calcium D3 citrate, Calcimax, calcium hydroxyapatite).
Calcium in the body is necessary to maintain bone structure, normal functioning of the nervous and cardiovascular systems.
As for diuretics, it is strictly forbidden to take them if you have gout, since these drugs additionally increase the level of uric acid in the blood. In all other cases, they can be drunk only with the permission of a doctor.
Replacing a joint affected by osteoarthritis (hip, knee) significantly reduces the risk of developing heart attacks and other cardiovascular pathologies. This can be explained by a decrease in the need for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, a decrease in pain stress and a noticeable increase in motor activity. Surgery allows many people to return to a normal lifestyle.
Joint diseases affect 6-8% of the world's population. Measures to prevent arthritis and arthrosis of the joints are designed to reduce the number of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Preventive measures include:
Arthritis is inflammation followed by tissue destruction of one or more joints. Externally they manifest themselves as pain, swelling of the joint, limited mobility, and a general decrease in quality of life.
There is a predisposition to arthritis:
As a rule, inflammation of mobile joints is provoked by a combination of several conditions. The main task of preventing joint arthritis is to neutralize or minimize the influence of harmful factors.
The movable joints of the hands include large shoulder and elbow joints, the wrist, as well as small joints of the hand and fingers. Inflammation and limited performance of the upper extremities can be prevented by following simple rules:
Before going to bed, massage clean, lubricated hands with nourishing cream. Each finger is treated with light rubbing movements, starting from the nail plate. The hands are rubbed and stroked, improving blood circulation and local metabolism.
To prevent acute arthritis in children, it is necessary to:
Sometimes rheumatoid arthritis occurs in children from 1 to 16 years of age, the causes of which are not fully understood. The active participation of the immune system in the pathological process is assumed. Strengthening the immune system reduces the risk of juvenile arthritis by 20%.
Recommendations for the prevention of knee arthritis are relevant for those whose daily activities involve increased stress on the knee. Tips for preventing gonarthritis include:
You can strengthen your knee joint with a series of exercises:
Yoga, swimming, cycling, and walking at an average pace will have a positive effect.
The largest joint in the body is the hip. Its inflammation can be prevented by a set of preventive measures:
Physical activity adequate for age and health will strengthen muscles and ligaments. Complexes of Pilates, callanetics, and yoga are shown.
The joints of the feet and toes bear the entire weight of our body. Therefore, it is important to follow the rules of prevention, which include:
A good result is shown by wearing orthopedic inserts - insoles, heels, which will evenly distribute the load on the arch of the foot. Massage will increase blood circulation and nutrition of the feet.
Arthrosis is accompanied by degeneration of cartilage, muscles, and bone tissue of the joint. Treatment of the initial stage and prevention of joint arthrosis:
The principles for selecting products that prevent joint destruction consist of several rules:
You need to eat in small portions, spreading your meals over 4-5 times a day. Preference is given to methods of preparing foods that preserve minerals and vitamins as much as possible. This is steaming, baking, stewing.
The most acute issue of preventing arthrosis of the shoulder joint is faced by representatives of certain professions - construction workers, athletes. In addition to following general recommendations on nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, modern medicine offers:
All procedures are aimed at restoring blood circulation, enhancing metabolism and improving nutrition of the muscles and ligaments of the shoulder. They prevent the development of the pathological process at an early stage.
Vitamins and minerals support the integrity of the joint and preserve its functions. The most important biologically active substances are vitamins A, D, E, K, B 2 , B 6 , C, H, PP. These compounds improve tissue trophism, enhance the protective properties of the epithelium, and increase the body's resistance to infections.
Macroelements K, Na, Ca, Mg, P are structural elements of cells and are part of enzymes and mediators. Microelements Fe, I, Cu, Zn, Mn, Co are involved in all types of metabolism as part of hormones, enzymes, and formed elements. You can get useful substances from food or from special preparations.
To prevent arthritis and arthrosis, doctors recommend chondroprotective drugs. They are vitamin-mineral complexes enriched with chondroitin, collagen, and glucosamine. These elements are involved in the growth and formation of cartilage tissue. There are many drugs of this type, here are the most famous:
All medications have contraindications and side effects. The advisability of use is agreed with the doctor.
Folk remedies have a number of advantages - low cost, accessibility, reliable proven effect.
Rubbing with alcohol tinctures improves microcirculation and relieves swelling. Fresh crushed sweet clover herbs, burdock root, wheatgrass, and hops with a total weight of 500 g are placed in a glass jar, poured with 500 ml of vodka, and sealed tightly. Infuse in a warm place for 6-8 days, filter. Rub the joints of the arms and legs.
For the ointment, take two tablespoons of dry, powdered elecampane, tansy, nettle, and St. John's wort herbs. Grind thoroughly with 50 g of Vaseline. Store the ointment in the refrigerator. Rub in with light massaging movements. The product reduces pain and inflammation.
Prevention of arthritis and arthrosis of the joints is based on proper nutrition, physical activity, and careful treatment of the moving joints of the arms and legs. Vitamin and mineral complexes and extracts of medicinal herbs will serve as auxiliary means.