HYDERABAD: Arthritis is a disorder that causes pain, stiffness and swelling in or around joints and is a chronic disorder affecting about 14 million Pakistanis and nearly 50 percent of senior citizens.
Talking to APP here on Monday eminent Orthopedic Dr. Parvez Rais Khan said that as a leading cause of disability, arthritic conditions limit the activity of more than seven million people in the United States and are second only to heart disease as a cause of work disability.
About the Osteoarthritis he said that this is the most common type of Arthritis, affecting many people. It is also called "degenerative joint disease" and most often involves the weight-bearing joints He informed adding that the disorder results from mechanical joint damage whether from long-term previous injury and Osteoarthritis usually is diagnosed in people older than 40.
Dr Parvez Rais Khan said that the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) does not result from overuse of joints, rather, it is an autoimmune disease. He said that it can affect patient's entire body and often causes general symptoms, such as fatigue and fever, in addition to joint pain and RA is most commonly diagnosed in people aged 25 to 50, but can affect people of all ages, including children.
About the lubrication of the fluids of the joints Dr Rais said that in RA, the fluid which lubricates the joint and allows for flexibility becomes inflamed and also inflammatory cells release enzymes which, if the process continues over years, can gradually digest the cartilage and bone of the joints.
Dr Raees Parvez Khan said that some doctors claim that arthritis is a metabolic disorder caused by stress.
It is believed by a sizable section that years of unhealthy living in poor environment, faulty nutrition, over-eating, emotional and physical stress, sedentary lifestyle and lack of positive outlook contribute to metabolic imbalance and the breakdown of basic bodily functions including digestion, assimilation, elimination, glandular secretion and circulation.
Dr. Khan said diet has been strongly implicated in many forms of arthritis and eliminating allergenic foods has been proven beneficial for some rheumatoid arthritis sufferers and virtually any food can aggravate RA.
He said that a person could have complete absence of joint pain and have much improved mobility from laser therapy treatments, even though x-rays still show severe degeneration.
He suggested that maintaining a normal weight or losing 10 pounds if patient is overweight help reducing the risk of osteoarthritis and helps reduce joint stress if patient already have arthritis.
Arthritis is chronic and there is no known cure, he said adding that the major aim is maintenance, reducing inflammation and easing pain.
Dr Khan further said that doctor cannot make the pain go away completely but can help with ways to reduce joint pain.
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