Arthritis Myths and Facts

Chances are you know someone, young or old, living with arthritis. Arthritis affects more than 50 million Americans. One in every five adults and 300,000 children live with the debilitating condition that causes joint pain, stiffness, immobility and swelling.

During May Arthritis Awareness we want to remind our community about common myths and misconceptions surrounding this disease. (Courtesy of the Arthritis Foundation)

Myth #1: Arthritis aches and pains just come with getting older.

Fact: People of all ages, races, and genders suffer from arthritis. Two-thirds of those with arthritis are under the age of 65, including 300,000 children.

Myth #2: Arthritis is not considered a serious health concern.

Fact: People with arthritis log 44 million outpatient visits and account for 992,100 hospitalizations each year. The disease is a more common cause for limited physical activity than heart disease, cancer or diabetes, and is expected to affect more than 67 million Americans by the year 2030.

Myth #3: Arthritis patients should avoid exercising.

Fact: Endurance and resistance types of exercise offer unique benefits for people with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatic conditions, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Regular exercise helps maintain a healthy weight, and a healthy weight greatly reduces pressure on the joints frequently affected by arthritis, such as the knees.

Myth #4: Not much is being done to advance a cure or treatments for arthritis.

Fact: Medical groups around the world are dedicated to arthritis research and developing better treatment options while hunting for a cure. Special organizations are also focused on raising awareness of the disease and its issues at the local level and in Washington, D.C. to generate more funds and assistance for research.

Are you suffering through joint pain? Don't. Make an appointment with a Texas Orthopedics specialists to find out the source of your aches and pains.

Why the Risks of Being Overweight are NOT a Cosmetic Issue

Weight shouldn't only be thought of as a cosmetic issue - there are huge health ramifications.

When people are carrying additional weight, it can contribute to osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease. Your joints are the points in your body where the bones join together, which allows you to move, bend, turn, etc. The more you weigh, the more stress is placed on the weight bearing joints like ankles, knees, hips and spine. This puts you at greater risk for developing osteoarthritis.

Another common problem associated with being overweight is sleep apnea - a dangerous condition where while sleeping people stop breathing or only take shallow breaths. This affects overweight people because they may have more fat stored around their neck, which narrows the airway.

Being overweight can also cause type 2 diabetes. Normally, the body breaks down food into glucose and then carries it to cells throughout the body. The cells use a hormone called insulin to turn the glucose into energy. With type 2 diabetes, the body can't produce enough insulin or use it properly, so the glucose cannot get into the body's cells and builds up in the blood. Type 2 diabetes is dangerous because it can lead to a stroke, kidney disease, foot problems and early death.

Continue the Conversation with Your Doctor

If these health issues sound scary, it's because they are and these are just a few of the possible health problems associated with being overweight. The best thing you can do is to take this knowledge and continue the conversation with your doctor.

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Study Finds Milk Might Slow Knee Osteoarthritis Progression in Women

 

“Got Milk?” A recent study conducted by researchers from Harvard Medical School and published in the peer-reviewed medical journal, Arthritis Care and Research, focused on the link between osteoarthritis and milk consumption. Osteoarthritis is a joint condition where the connective tissue between bones wastes away over time, causing the bones to rub together. It’s painful and most often affects the joints in the hands, knees, spine and hips.

Researchers wanted to know if milk helps stop existing osteoarthritis from getting any worse, so they focused on one aspect of osteoarthritis: the gap in the knee joint that can be seen on an X-ray, which is an established clinical measure of the progression of the condition. 

The study found that in women who regularly drink milk, the joint gap did not reduce as much after four years than women who drank less or no milk (meaning the milk drinkers’ osteoarthritis was deteriorating at a slower rate). However, in men there was no significant association between drinking milk and the gap in the knee joint.

While the study was limited to this one measurement and did not address whether or not the reduction in joint gap led to any reduction in discomfort and pain for people with osteoarthritis, it does start an important discussion in the medical community. And it also reminds us that getting the right amount of calcium in our diets is extremely important for strengthening bones.

Want to know other foods besides milk that can help strengthen your bones? Check out our blog on 5 Foods to Improve Your Bone Health.

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