| Arthritis affects the bones and joints and is a common ailment. In India, the most common forms of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). Osteoarthritis is the second most common rheumatological problem, according to a 2016 study published in the Indian Journal of Orthopaedics. In India, the prevalence of RA is estimated to be about 0.7 percent. According to the 2011 Census of India, approximately 9 million people out of total population of 1.21 billion may | |
| be affected by RA. With age, the rate of prevalence rises significantly. | |
Are you at risk for developing arthritis?
There are many factors that can raise the risk of developing arthritis or making the disease worse in people who already have it. As a consequence, becoming mindful of these factors will assist you in properly handling your condition. Here are a few arthritis risk factors, some of which you can handle to reduce the risk of developing the disease as stated by Dr. Ratnav Ratan who is one of the best pediatric orthopedic doctorpracticing in Gurgaon. 1. Being overweight
| One of the most important modifiable risk factors for osteoarthritis is being overweight. Being overweight or obese not only increases your risk of developing metabolic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, but it also increases your risk of developing arthritis. According to arthritis & pain management doctors, every 2 units increase in the body mass index or | ||
| BMI (5 kg of weight gain) raises the risk of knee OA by 36%. | ||
| Increased exposure to high BMI during adulthood, which can begin as early as 20 years for men and 11 years for women, increased the risk. Obesity also exacerbates the condition’s seriousness. Obese people with OA have more serious joint degeneration than those who are underweight but have the disease. Excess weight places more strain on weight-bearing joints like the hips and knees. As a result, maintaining a healthy weight is | ||
| important for reducing the risk and preventing arthritis. | ||
2. Injuries to joints
| The majority of people are unaware that joint injuries can result in a condition known as post-traumatic arthritis (PTA). It accounts for around 12% of all cases of osteoarthritis. The disease can affect people of any age and can occur as a result of any form of acute physical damage to the | ||
| joints, such as athletics, accidents, falls, or military injuries. | ||
| While a single wound can raise the risk of arthritis, repetitive accidents and excess body weight can raise the risk much higher. Chronic PTA is described as the continuation of symptoms such as swelling, severe pain, | ||
| and synovial effusion after six months. | ||
3. Tobacco use
| One of the most well-studied preventable risk factors for arthritis is smoking. Cigarette smoking has been linked to an increased risk of developing RA in studies. Furthermore, it has the potential to exacerbate the disease in people who already have it. Smoking is thought to be responsible for 18–25 percent of the risk of RA in smokers in the general population. The danger is dose-related, which means that the more you smoke, the more likely you are to develop arthritis. Men, on the other | ||
| hand, have a higher risk of arthritis due to smoking than women. | ||
| It may take up to 20 years after you stop smoking to achieve the same level of risk as a nonsmoker. Passive smoking (secondhand smoke) and smokeless tobacco, on the other hand, were not found to be related to the risk of RA. So, if you smoke, stop to reduce the risk of RA, as well as the | ||
| risk of other tobacco-related health problems including cancer. | ||
4. Infections
| Yes, certain infections will raise the risk of developing arthritis. Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites may cause an acute or chronic infection in the joints, resulting in reactive or inflammatory arthritis. Therefore, if you have an infection or your joints are warm, red, or swollen after an | |
| infection, you should see a doctor to rule out arthritis. | |
5. Gender
| The majority of us are conscious that the risk of developing arthritis rises with age. However, it is unknown if arthritis affects more women than men. In contrast to men, women are two to three times more likely to develop RA. In terms of OA, women are more likely than men to develop it, especially after the age of fifty. Obesity, for example, increases the incidence and risk of arthritis in women. Women with OA in their families are also more likely to develop the disease. But the exact explanation why | |
| women are more likely than men to develop arthritis is unclear. | |
