Types of Arthritis and How Seniors Can Manage It

Arthritis, a term which means disorder of joints. It is characterized by stiffness, redness, joint pain and limited movements of the affected joints. The onset of arthritis can be sudden or gradual. Some forms of arthritis can attack other organs too.

Today, let us focus on the various types of arthritis and how seniors can manage it to keep themselves comfortable and relaxed.

Types of Arthritis:

Osteoarthritis

It is most common in older people. Cartilage is a tissue that acts as padding to bones in a joint. Osteoarthritis or OA starts when the cartilage starts wearing away. Symptoms can be mild pain and stiffness to severe joint pains that can affect your senior loved ones during their sleep also.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

In Rheumatoid arthritis or RA the body’s immune system attacks its tissues, including joints. It causes inflammation in the joints causing pain, swelling and stiffness that may last long. This can often happen in different joints at the same time. People suffering from RA feel exhausted all the time and can suffer from fever. This type of arthritis can attack a body at any age and is more common in women.

Reactive Arthritis

It is a form of arthritis that occurs as a result of a reaction to an infection in other body parts. Reactive Arthritis also causes redness and inflammation of the eyes (Conjunctivitis) and inflammation of the urinary tract besides joint inflammation.

Gout

A gout is a form of arthritis that causes redness, pain and stiffness in the joints. Pain and inflammation in gout occur when too much uric acid crystallizes and deposits in the joints. Foods like beans, peas, shellfish, and liver aggravate the condition further. Gout mostly attacks the big toe but it can affect other joints including the elbow, ankle, knee, wrist etc. Swelling may cause the skin around the joint to become tight and become tender and turn red.

Ankylosing Spondylitis ( arthritis of spine) and Psoriatic arthritis ( that affects people who have the skin condition psoriasis.) etc. are other types of arthritis that our senior loved ones can suffer from.

Now, let us have a close look at some of the steps that our senior loved ones can follow to manage arthritis

• It is necessary for our beloved seniors that they maintain healthy body weight as extra pounds put pressure on weight-bearing joints like knees, hips etc. resulting in arthritis.

• Physiotherapy can help in reducing arthritis pain to a large extent. Elder Care Services in Kolkata provide physiotherapy services at the convenience of your home. Moreover, they use modern techniques like "ultrasound and electric stimulation" that help in reducing arthritis pain and providing much-needed comfort to your loved ones.

• High Blood sugar often stiffens the tissue that supports joints of a body resulting in pain and stress. Senior people must monitor their sugar level from time to time and consult a doctor immediately if they notice some abnormality in their health or test reports.

• Regular movement of the body for at least 30 minutes will help to strengthen the muscles that support the knees and hips thereby reducing the chance of having arthritis. Walking or swimming is considered good to prevent arthritis. Encourage your loved ones for pleasant morning and evening walks to keep their muscles strong.

• Meditation and other relaxation techniques help to reduce arthritis pain by lowering the stress level and enabling your beloved seniors to cope with arthritis pain and inflammation.

• Regular gentle stretching can improve the senior’s range of motion. They should make a habit to stretch their body gently daily for at least 10-15 minutes.

• Heat and cold treatments can help relieve arthritis pain and inflammation. A long warm shower in the morning helps to ease the stiffness of the joints. Wrapping a pack of ice or a bag of frozen vegetables in a towel and applying it to the painful joints helps in quick relief. Ice should never be applied directly to the skin.

• Senior people should consume fish that are high in Omega- 3s, like salmon, trout and mackerel which will help in preventing arthritis. Additionally, a diet rich in fresh fruits, and vegetables as a plant-based diet provides antioxidants, which are known for reducing inflammation.

The above discussion highlights the various types of arthritis and what steps our senior loved ones can take to manage it.

Debosree is a professional writer working in the Senior Care Field for quite a long time. She has written many informative blogs and articles on the senior care facilities that are available. He has a great reader base.