Exercising regularly helps slowdown osteoarthritis progression
Arthritis is one of the most common diseases. Arthritis causes stiffness, pain, and deterioration in our bones and joints. While rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, osteoarthritis is in most cases caused due to old age. It may also be hereditary.
Osteoarthritis is caused due to the general wear and tear of our bones and muscles. This may be sooner for some people due to various factors. Some of these factors are poor diet, unhealthy lifestyle, sedentary routine, lack of exercise, etc.
Although osteoarthritis cannot be completely prevented, making conscious changes to one's lifestyle can significantly lower the risk of osteoarthritis. In this article, we list lifestyle changes that can help lower your chances of developing osteoarthritis.
9 Lifestyle changes that lower the risk of osteoarthritis:
1. Exercise
Exercising is one of the most effective ways to lower the risk of osteoarthritis and various other bone health diseases that are triggered by general wear and tear. Exercising helps improve the absorption of nutrients by our bones and muscles which promotes longevity in them. Exercising also promotes elasticity in joints and muscles.
2. Manage your weight
One of the main causes of osteoarthritis may be obesity. Extra fat around our bones and joints puts excess pressure on them. This excess pressure may fasten their deterioration. Many studies show obese people have a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis.
3. Be careful of repetitive motions
This might sound contradictory. However, repetitive motions are not as healthy as regular exercising. If your job or hobby requires you to practice the same physical movement multiple times daily, it might affect the health of your joints and bones.
4. Take a break
Exertion of muscles and bones as mentioned above can also cause more harm than good. Although exercising daily is important, it is okay to take breaks if there is an excess strain on your bones and joints.
5. Watch your blood sugar
High levels of blood sugar or diabetes have also proven to increase one's risk of osteoarthritis. You can notice early signs of type-2 diabetes through regular full-body checkups via blood tests.
6. Don't ignore pains
In case you have been experiencing any pain in certain joints, you are advised to see a healthcare professional regarding the same. Prolonged joint pains may develop into osteoarthritis or other incurable bone health-related diseases.
7. Treat injuries
Similar to joint pains, you are also encouraged to treat and pay close attention to injuries. Injuries caused by impact can pose threat to your joints and bone health. You may be at a higher risk of delaying osteoarthritis or other such diseases if you leave injuries untreated.
8. Drink in moderation
Alcohol has various adverse effects on our health. Many studies show, that excess and regular consumption of alcohol also affects the health of our bones and muscles. It deteriorates our bones' health and speeds up the wear and tear process.
9. Stop smoking
Smoking has various negative effects on our bodies and may even have life-threatening effects. Smoking also speeds up the process of general wear and tear of our bones and muscles. This might increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis or other chronic diseases.
In conclusion, our lifestyle plays an integral role in our physical health. Making healthier lifestyle choices lowers our risk of osteoarthritis and various other diseases that may later lead to osteoarthritis.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.