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| Causes of Arthritis |
There are different forms of arthritis and the causes are not all the same. The cause or causes vary based on the type of arthritis.
· Wear and tear of a joint: This happens due to joint overuse
· Injury: It leads to degenerative arthritis
· Abnormal metabolism: It results in gout
and pseudogout
· Inheritance or family story: This can lead to osteoarthritis
· Autoimmune disorders: It can result in RA and SLE
· Muscle weakness: This results in Osteoarthritis
· Infections: They can cause arthritis of the Lyme disease
Most forms of arthritis are caused by a
combination of factors! However, some don’t have any obvious cause and appear
unpredictable in their growth.
Nutrition
or good dieting can contribute to the management of
arthritis and its risk, though specific foods, food sensitivities or
intolerances are not a known cause of arthritis.
Inflammation-increasing
foods, especially animal-derived foods and
refined-sugar diets, can worsen the symptoms, just like eating foods that
provoke a response from the immune system.
Gout is a type
of arthritis with close links to diet since it is caused by an increase in uric
acid levels that can be provoked by a purine-packed diet.
Diets with high purine foods such as red wine, seafood, and meats, can provoke a gout flare-up. Contrarily, vegetables and other plant foods with high levels of purines don’t appear to trigger gout symptoms.
Risk
factors for arthritis
Arthritis has certain risk factors it associates
with. There are modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors.
Modifiable
arthritis risk factors:
Overweight
and obesity: Putting on excess weight can play a role in both
the start and progression of osteoarthritis of the knee.
Joint
injuries: Joint damage can cause osteoarthritis to develop
in that joint.
Infections: Different
types of microbial agents can infect joints and result in several forms of
arthritis.
Occupation:
Being involved in occupations that involve repetitive bending of the
knees and squatting adds to the risk of osteoarthritis of the knee.
Non-modifiable
arthritis risk factors include:
Age: Age comes
with an increase in the risk of developing most types of arthritis. This is
particularly common in people over the age of 50.
Gender: Females
are more susceptible to most forms of arthritis than males. Females occupy 60
percent of all people with arthritis. However, when it comes to gout, in
particular, more males have it than females.
Genetic
factors: Certain genes are more susceptible to a higher
risk of specific types of arthritis, for example, systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis.
Comorbidities
Over half of adults living with arthritis in the
U.S. report being diagnosed with high blood pressure( HBP). Hypertension or HBP
is associated with heart disease, a condition most common with adults that have
arthritis.
Smoking is linked to chronic respiratory conditions,
and it’s the second most common comorbidity affecting adults with arthritis.
If you even suspect symptoms of arthritis in your
body or that of your loved one, schedule an appointment with a rheumatologist
first. That’s how to ensure a timely diagnosis and treatment. Your doctor will document
inflammation levels in your blood and analyse joint fluids. This can help determine
the type of arthritis you have.
Please go to the next article to learn about
symptoms of arthritis and how to treat them before they become chronic.
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