Unfortunately, many people, not only the elderly, know what arthritis.The disease is much rejuvenated in recent decades, are increasingly affecting 30-40 year olds.Almost everyone whose age exceeded sixty years abroad, complains of problems with joints.It is believed that women are more likely than men suffer from osteoarthritis, but in old age, this difference is minimal.This disease - one of the most common causes of disability and handicap.
So, what is arthritis?It is very common joint diseases.They suffer about 15% of the world population.Osteoarthritis is known since ancient times, as evidenced by the study of fossil remains of people who lived in the Stone Age.
Osteoarthritis - a deterioration and destruction of the joints and adjacent tissues: cartilage, articular bone structures, ligaments.Besides growths appear on the surface of bone that are already secondary changes joint.The disease is chronic, and if it appears, there will be only to progress, and in the process will involve all new joints.Osteoarthritis usually affects the joints, which are heavily loaded in livelihoods: the knee, hip, shoulder, spine joints, toes and hands.The disease can affect one or symmetrical joints, or several.The most common types of the disease - gonarthrosis (knee lesion) and coxarthrosis (hip area).
With age, the body is natural wear of all systems and tissues, including cartilage.But in the normal version of the process of destruction and balanced synthesis, and arthrosis is its active degeneration.Therefore, arthrosis can be characterized as premature wear of the articular cartilage.To date, the causes and development of the disease are not fully understood.
What arthritic joints, and what are its symptoms?Onset is rarely accompanied by any symptoms.For arthritis is characterized by pain during exercise, which subsides at rest, a crunch in joints, limited mobility, deformity.
Osteoarthritis should not be confused with arthritis, though both diseases affect the joints.The first case - a chronic, degenerative changes in the cartilage are not inflammatory.Arthritis also has an inflammatory nature.In this area of the joint swells and becomes hot, there is redness, pain is present even at rest.When arthritis discomfort and sometimes sharp jerks.
What is osteoarthritis and what are its causes?Sources occurrence of degenerative changes in the joint is not completely clear, but the fact that old age is a risk factor, is beyond doubt.But this does not mean that the illness will certainly appear in old age.
One of the main causes of the disease - is aging chondrocytes which make up cartilage.With age there is a gradual reduction or obliteration of cartilage, causing pain and appear in motion.This process can be the result of physical activity associated with sports and a number of professions.Osteoarthritis may develop as a result of injuries and post-traumatic conditions.
disease often develops on the background of hormonal changes, such as menopause.
most susceptible to arthritis, especially the knee, overweight people.This is due to overload them and especially the exchange processes in people with a high body weight.
disease can develop on the background of endocrine disorders such as thyroid disease and diabetes.
not the last role in the development of the disease plays a genetic predisposition.
What is osteoarthritis and how to treat it?I must say, it is impossible to completely eliminate the disease.If timely measures taken and adequate treatment can stop the process and oblegchitsostoyanie.Today, the development of new effective treatments for osteoarthritis.Along with the necessary medication widely used ultrasonic and microwave therapy, physiotherapy, Hyperbaric, heat transfer applications.
