As you grow older the chances on contracting an illness tends to increase. These are hereditary in some cases, while in others there is no explication which helps doctors, understand why the problem has surfaced. Many a times, it is due to the physical and mental stress which the body is forced to undergo regularly.
Thus, it is important to take care of yourself and to make sure that you are not exerting your body too much. It is also equally important to make sure that you are aware of the changes that are taking place in your body, so that you can identify a problem as early as possible.
This is especially true with age related illnesses like arthritis. This condition can be caused due to one of two reasons. The first is due to wear and tear of the joints and cartilage, which is synonymous with old age. The second is caused when the immune system attacks the lining of the joints. The types of arthritis have been categorised based on the cause, the former called Osteoarthritis and the latter Rheumatoid arthritis.
In both cases, it is important to identify the problem early, so that necessary steps can be taken to keep it under control. Arthritis symptoms include:
- Pain in the joints
- Stiffness
- Redness
- Swelling
- Restricted motion
If you have been diagnosed with the illness in the early stages, simple lifestyle changes can be taken, in order to keep the problem under control. If you are overweight or obese, it would be a good idea to take active steps, in order to lose those extra kilos. This will increase your mobility and control future joint pains.
Regular exercise is a great way to do this. It helps you stay fit on one hand and on the other it enables flexibility. Swimming is a good option as the water supports the body and thus does not put too must stress on the joints.
The pain can be eased with the use of heating pads or an ice pack, depending on what you prefer. If the pain is a little more severe the use of a walker, a cane and a raised toilet seat will give support to the joints and improve your performance.
However, if it persists you may require some medication which will help in flexibility and reduce the pain as well. You can also opt for alternate treatments like Ayurveda and Homeopathy as they have both been effective in the past.
In this manner, you will be able to realize when something is going wrong and seek the necessary treatment in order to keep the problem under control.
