OSTEOARTHRITIS

<p>OSTEOARTHRITIS</p><p>Osteoarthritis affects people of all ages and walks of life. While the symptoms tend to appear gradually and worsen slowly. Osteoarthritis is a condition where cartilage - the spongy, protective tissue in your joints - becomes thin and loses its ability to stretch and bend. When cartilage becomes thin or is completely worn away, the bones in your joints can start to rub against each other.</p><p>It can appear at any age, but tends to occur more commonly in women and in people aged over 40 years. Many people have osteoarthritis without noticing any symptoms. For those people who do experience symptoms, the most common sites are the fingers and the joints that support the weight of your body - your spine (backbone), hips and knees .</p><p>CAUSES:</p><p>The cause of osteoarthritis is largely unknown.Different factors can speed up or worsen cartilage loss in different people. Sometimes osteoarthritis is caused by an injury or overuse of the joint, which may result from particular types of work or sport. Problems with the hips or knees may be worsened by being overweight, which can put too much strain on these joints. A family history of osteoarthritis or other joint problems may make you more likely to develop the</p><p>Condition.</p><p>SYMPTOM:</p><p>Pain.</p><p>Swelling.</p><p>Stiff joints</p><p>Loss of mobility .</p><p>A feeling of insecurity or instability.</p><p>Functional impairment .</p><p>Soft spots around the joint .</p><p>Inflammation around the joint .</p><p>DIAGNOSIS</p><p>Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint. It occurs most often in the hands, knees,hips, and spine.</p><p>Warning signs of osteoarthritis are:</p><p>• Stiffness in a joint after getting out of bed or sitting for a long time</p><p>• Swelling or tenderness in one or more joints</p><p>• A crunching feeling or the sound of bone rubbing on bone.</p><p>No single test can diagnose osteoarthritis. Most doctors use several methods to diagnose the</p><p>disease and rule out other problems:</p><p>• Medical history</p><p>• Physical exam</p><p>• X rays</p><p>• Other tests such as blood tests or exams of the fluid in the joints.</p><p>Homeopathic medicines<br> are definitely suggested for osteoarthritis, especially for early cases where the medicines can slow down the degenerative process and offer considerable pain relief.Regular physical activity benefits everyone, whetheror not they have osteoarthritis. It helps to reduce your pain, strengthen your muscles, maintain your joint functions and improve your sleep and overall health.</p>