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As you age, you may feel your joints getting stiffer and more tender. Sometimes this joint
pain could be a symptom of Osteoarthritis, or OA, which is the most common form of arthritis.
I'm Shelby Cullinan for the dailyRx News Network.
OA develops due to wear and tear on the joints. The most common joints that OA affects are
knees, hips, hands, neck, back and ankles. Although OA can be painful, proper treatment
and lifestyle changes can slow the progression of the disease and help improve mobility.
The risk of developing OA increases sharply for people over the age of 45, as older adults
have experienced more wear on their joints. People who are overweight or obese are also
more likely to have OA, as the additional weight puts more pressure on joints. Dr. Shree-yash-ree
Ahmin, a Mayo Clinic rheumatologist has this to add
There's been studies to show that if you lose a pound of weight there's about a 4-fold decrease
load in the knee... So people who are overweight including diabetes and high blood pressure
being in there high risk for, osteoarthritis is something else they should be considering.
So weight loss is really important
The first OA symptom that people usually notice is pain. Usually a joint affected by OA may
hurt because the cartilage is not fully protecting the joint anymore. Although there is no cure
for OA, it's possible to treat symptoms and prevent it from getting worse. Healthy lifestyle
changes are one of the most important ways to take control of your OA. Yoga, swimming
and water aerobics are all activities that can relieve pain.You can ask your doctor to
create a personalized fitness plan. When lifestyle changes alone are not enough to manage OA
symptoms, other treatments can help, such as medications or joint replacement surgery.
The best way to manage OA symptoms is to stop them before they start. Maintaining a normal
body weight through a healthy diet and regular exercise will reduce your risk of OA and keep
your joints flexible.
Speak to your doctor about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. To keep up to date with all the
latest health news visit dailyRx.com. For the dailyRx News Network, I'm Shelby Cullinan.