All you need to know​ Osteoarthritis (OA)

What is Osteoarthritis?​
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic joint condition. OA is also called wear-and-tear arthritis or degenerative arthritis.
A joint is where two bones come together. Cartilage is the protective tissue that covers the ends of the bones. 
With OA, this cartilage breaks down, causing the bones within the joint to rub together. This can cause pain, stiffness, and other symptoms.
OA can occur in any joint.
However, the most commonly affected areas of the body include the:

1. hands​
2. fingers​
3. shoulder​
4. spine, typically at the neck or lower back​
5. hips​
6. knees

Causes and Risk Factors of OA
Causes and Risk Factors of OA
This damage can have a cumulative effect over time, which is why age is one of the main causes of the joint damage leading to OA. The older you are, the more repetitive stress you’ve had on your joints.

Factors that can increase your risk of osteoarthritis include:​
*having family with the condition, particularly parents or siblings
*gender, with women having higher rates of OA than men
*being at least 50 years old
*having undergone menopause

Causes and Risk Factors of OA
*having an occupation that involves kneeling, climbing, heavy lifting, or similar actions
*a history of injury
*being overweight or having obesity
*poor posture having another medical condition that affects your joint health, such as diabetes or a different type of arthritis​

Symptoms of OA
Symptoms of osteoarthritis most often develop gradually and include; Pain: Affected joints might hurt during or after movement.​ Stiffness: Joint stiffness might be most noticeable upon awakening or after being inactive. Tenderness: Your joint might feel tender when you apply light pressure to or near it. Loss of Flexibility: You might not be able to move your joint through its full range of motion. Grating Sensation: You might feel a grating sensation when you use the joint, and you might hear popping or crackling.​ Bone Spurs: These extra bits of bone, which feel like hard lumps, can form around the affected joint. Swelling: This might be caused by soft tissue inflammation around the joint.

Diagnosis
*Your doctor can typically diagnose osteoarthritis by obtaining a complete history of your symptoms and examining your joints. X-rays may be helpful to make sure there is no other reason for the pain. 
*There are no blood tests that diagnose osteoarthritis. 
*If a joint is particularly swollen, a doctor may need to drain fluid from that joint. Tests can be performed on the fluid to look for clues for other types of arthritis, such as gout.

Treatment of OA
OA treatment is centered upon symptom management. 
The type of treatment that will help you the most will largely depend on the severity of your symptoms and their location.
Often, medications like oral pain relievers, topical pain relievers can help. 
Speak with your doctor before you take any medicines. They can prescribe disease modifying medicines which help restrict deterioration.
Your doctor could prescribe other medicines like Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or Corticosteroids for more severe symptoms. 
Generally, lifestyle changes, and home remedies will be helpful to provide you with relief from pain, stiffness, and swelling.​

Lifestyle changes for treatment of OA include;
*Weight management- Being overweight can put strain on your joints and cause pain. Shedding some kilos helps relieve this pressure and reduces pain.
*Adequate sleep- Getting enough sleep at night can also help you manage pain more effectively.
*Heat and cold therapy- Applying a hot or cold compress to sore joints for 15 to 20 minutes, several times per day can help relieve muscle pain and stiffness
*Exercise- Physical activity strengthens the muscles around your joints and may help relieve stiffness. Aim for at least 20 to 30 minutes of physical movement. Choose gentle, low impact activities, such as walking or swimming. 

Natural Remedies for OA
Natural herbs and supplements may help to relieve symptoms such as inflammation and joint pain. Some supplements or herbs that may help include; Green Tea, Ginger and Fish oil.
Talk with your doctor about any herbs or supplements before you start using them to ensure that they are safe, effective, and won’t interfere with other medications you’re taking.

OA Diet
Diet and nutrition play a vital role if you have OA. 
A high-quality diet may help provide relief from OA symptoms by lowering inflammation and swelling. 
Eating foods rich in Vit C (citrus fruits &Veg), Vit D (eggs, fatty fish, red meat), Beta carotene (yellow and orange veg, leafy veg) & Omega 3 fatty acids ( mackerel, sardines, walnuts, flax seeds)  can be very beneficial in management of OA symptoms. 
Increasing your intake of foods with anti-inflammatory properties like berries, avocado, green tea, turmeric etc. can help, too