Causes of Arthritis that may shock you

Here are some suprising causes of arthritis

Arthritis is a disease that can affect anyone, at any given point of time. While aging can be a significant risk factor, there are cases wherein people below the age of 65 develop the condition, some even in their 30s. As bizarre as it may sound, arthritis in children is also a common phenomenon known as childhood arthritis or juvenile arthritis - the most common type being juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

As per Global RA Network, 2021, more than 350 million people around the world, which is quite concerning, since there is no specific way to determine why it is caused to begin with. However let us delve deeper into the common types and its causes.

Common types of arthritis you should know about

Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints, a common disorder that causes pain and discomfort. It may occur in your feet, hands, hips, knees, lower back and other parts of the body too.

That said, arthritis is an umbrella term for more than 100 different joint problems. However, some of the most common types of arthritis are as follows:

Osteoarthritis - This condition occurs when the joints are overused, leading to "wear and tear".

Rheumatoid Arthritis - RA is an autoimmune disease, wherein the immune system attacks different parts of the body, especially the joints.

Psoriatic Arthritis - Those suffering with psoriatic arthritis experience inflammation of the skin and joints.

Gout - This condition is an outcome of uric acid crystals formation in a joint.

Juvenile arthritis - Juvenile arthritis is a disorder that affects children 16 or younger.. It is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the tissue around joints.

Given that arthritis can be of many types, the causes can vary from person to person, who're dealing with a particular type of disease.

A family history of autoimmune diseases makes you more prone to Rheumatoid arthritis

As mentioned above, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that occurs when your body’s immune system becomes "confused" after an infection and attacks the tissues of the body, leading to inflammation of the joints. This further spreads to other parts of the body, causing more damage than ever. While the exact cause of this condition is yet to be confirmed, experts believe that a family history of RA or other autoimmune diseases can make a person more prone to this condition.

Being obese can be a risk factor

One of the most common type of arthritis is Osteoarthritis, which is caused when the joints are overused and lead to wear and tear. While is commonly an outcome of aging, it can also occur due to obesity.

According to experts, being obese can be a significant cause of osteoarthritis, since condition is said to put on a lot of pressure on the joints. Joint areas that bear the most weight such as the hips, feet, knees, are the most common places in the body that are affected. Symptoms may include, pain in the joints, pain while walking, stiffness even when resting, and the inability to go about daily activities like dressing, combing your hair, climbing stairs and more.

Repetitive stress on the joints or injuries may lead to arthritis

When your joints begin to wear and tear, it means you're suffering with osteoarthritis. While age is the most common risk factor for this condition, a certain joint injury that breaks down the cartilage tissues can also cause osteoarthritis. Cartilage is a flexible connective tissue that helps protect the joints from excessive external pressure. However, once it starts to wear, it may weaken the joints.

Smoking or physical inactivity can increase your risk of the disease

Lifestyle factors can also cause arthritis. Smoking and/or leading a sedentary lifestyle are believed to make you more prone to different types of arthritis. While there is no conclusive evidence, smoking is said to reduce immune functions, which is further linked to the development of rheumatoid arthritis. That said, for those who already have the condition, smoking may worsen the symptoms and prognosis, as reported in a 2014 study from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Lifestyle, not genetics, explains most premature heart disease

Physical inactivity, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol play a greater role than genetics in many young patients with heart diseases, suggests a new study.

The research showed that healthy behaviours should be a top priority for reducing heart diseases even in those with a family history of early onset.

Genetics is an important contributor to premature heart disease but should not be used as an excuse to say it is inevitable, said the study author.

In our clinical practice, we often hear young patients with premature heart disease ' seek shelter ' and explanations in their genetics / family history ' he said.

However, when we look at the data in our study, these young patients were frequent smokers, physically inactive, with high cholesterol levels and high BP- all of which can be changed, he added.
The study enrolled 1,075 patients under 50, of whom 555 had coronary artery disease (CAD). Specific conditions included stable angina, heart attack and unstable angina.

The average age was 45 and 87 % were men. Risk factor levels and genetics in patients were compared to a control group of 520 healthy volunteers ( average age 44 and 86% men). Patients and controls were recruited from the Genes in Madeira and Coronary Disease (GENEMACOP) database.

Five modifiable risk factors were assessed: physical inactivity, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of patients had at least three of these risk factors compared to 31% of controls. In both groups, the likelihood of developing CAD increased exponentially with each additional risk factor. The probability of CAD was 3, 7, and 24 times higher with 1, 2, and 3 or more risk factors, respectively.

All participants underwent genome sequencing. These data were used to develop a genetic risk score containing 33 variants thought to contribute to CAD or risk factors such as high blood pressure. The average score was higher in patients than controls. The score was also an independent predictor for premature CAD. However, the contribution of genetics to risk of CAD declined as the number of modifiable factors rose.

The Dr. said: "The findings demonstrate that genetics contribute to CAD. However, in patients with two or more modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, genetics play a less decisive role in the development of CAD."

He concluded: "Our study provides strong evidence that people with a family history of premature heart disease should adopt healthy lifestyles, since their poor behaviours may be a greater contributor to heart disease than their genetics. That means quit smoking, exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and get blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked."

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Slow pace in old age may indicate heart diseases

Aging enhances the problems of balance, muscle strength and flexibility, physical strength that could also lead to numerous limitations and disabilities. Heart disease risk factors such as smoking and living with diabetes.

Are you facing difficulty in taking rapid steps? Beware, it may indicate the risk of chronic heart illness.

Older adults with walking problems are at a higher risk of developing heart diseases, a new study says.

The study,  stated that the link between heart disease risk factors and walking difficulties was greater in people belonging to the older age group.

Aging enhances the problems of balance, muscle strength and flexibility, physical strength that could also lead to numerous limitations and disabilities.

Heart disease risk factors such as smoking, living with diabetes, obesity or being physically inactive were linked to having a slower walking speed, the researchers noted.

The study, studied over participants aged 60 and above. The participants neither had heart disease at the start of the study nor any problems with walking speed, balance or chair standing exercises.

Researchers considered participants’ physical activity levels, alcohol consumption, body mass index and the cognitive abilities that helps to think and make decisions.

In addition, the blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were also tested. High CRP levels point to a higher risk for heart diseases, which remains a serious concern for older people.

The results showed that the more risk factors people had for heart disease, the faster their decline in walking speed.

The researchers concluded that reducing heart disease risk factors with appropriate treatments might help “younger” older adults maintain their physical function.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.   

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