Arthritis: Risk factors and treatment measures

The term arthritis includes not one, but a number of pathological conditions in which acute or chronic inflammation of the joints occurs. The most common types of arthritis include:

In the majority of types of arthritis, the presence of inflammation is the common denominator through which the most striking symptoms of the disease manifest themselves, such as joint pain, swelling, redness, stiffness and finally limitation of mobility in one or more joints.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, with 1 in 5 adults is affected by the disease. It is characterised by chronic degeneration of the cartilage in the knee or hip area with the main risk factors being age, gender (women are more likely to develop it) and excess body weight. In particular, the coexistence of obesity has been closely linked to the occurrence of osteoarthritis and is one of the most important risk factors that can affect the function of the joint cartilage. But what is cartilage? Joint cartilage is the flexible, elastic, connective tissue that protects the bones so they don't "rub" together. In case of osteoarthritis, the elastic properties of the cartilage begin to deteriorate, which reduces its protective action against bones, causing the unpleasant symptoms mentioned above, mainly pain and movement limitation.

According to recent calculations, it is estimated that by 2050 the number of people with osteoarthritis will reach 2 billion worldwide! It is therefore urgent to know what we can do to protect ourselves from the eventual onset and what we can do to slow down the disease in case it occurs. Age, gender as well as one's genetic predisposition are risk factors that we cannot influence. However, lifestyle and, above all, weight regulation has been the subject of intensive scientific research and are factors that play a key role in the onset and progression of the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis. And yes, they are modifiable!

The therapeutic approach to osteoarthritis involves a combination of parameters and requires the teamwork of different specialties for a successful outcome of the disease. It is doctor’s responsibility to effectively assess and diagnose the stage of the disease, so that he or she can design the best individualized treatment plan together with the multidisciplinary team. The clinical dietician, the physiotherapist and the psychologist are integral parts of the multidisciplinary team, where each one of them are putting in the necessary "stone" to improve the quality of life of patients with osteoarthritis.

 

If you suffer from arthritis or have a relative with arthritis, you will have found that joint pain is one of the main symptoms that patients are in need of immediate attention. Many patients are looking for a topical cream for joint pain, others for collagen for joints, while many resort to the well-known gelatin powder for joints. The most commonly applied treatment involves the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which - indeed - seem to be very effective in treating pain. However, the use of analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is not recommended on a long-term basis because of the serious side effects they may cause. Thus, joint pain remains an issue that needs care when medication cannot be used safely in the long term.

The scientific community has turned its attention to the intensive study of certain ingredients with anti-inflammatory activity that can be obtained through dietary supplements and which seem to be able to be part of the treatment protocol, reduce pain and inflammation and improve joint mobility.

Turmeric. The orange-yellow treasure of Asia is one of the most powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory plants because of the presence of curcumin, its active ingredient. According to a recent review, which included 10 clinical studies, it was noted that turmeric supplementation is able to significantly reduce pain and improve joint mobility, with an effect similar to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs! The use of turmeric and curcumin appears to be perfectly safe, even when administered alongside medication. However, in any case, medical advice, in parallel with medication is considered essential.
Extra tip: Look for a turmeric supplement enriched with black pepper, as piperine increases the absorption and bioavailability of curcumin, making it more effective, such as Holland & Barrett black pepper turmeric supplement. Alternatively, go directly for the active ingredient in turmeric, the - recently added - curcumin supplement with a clinically studied sample of curcumin.

Learn more about turmeric here.

Glucosamine. Glucosamine is a normal component of joint cartilage, providing elasticity and dynamic range of motion, as well as helping to lubricate the joint. It is another ingredient with a number of studies, which appears to be effective and well tolerated at doses of 1000-1500mg. Glucosamine supplementation appears to help reduce pain, and at the same time help rebuild cartilage, improving the quality of life of patients with osteoarthritis. In the recent review conducted by Nam Xuan Vo and colleagues, no serious side effects were observed with the administration of glucosamine sulfate along with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as part of the treatment protocol, making glucosamine a promising, safe and effective ingredient.

Extra tip: If you're vegan, go for glucosamine hydrochloride supplementation, as glucosamine sulfate is derived from shellfish.

Possible Interactions/Side Effects. If taking antidiabetic or anticoagulant medication, please consult your doctor.

Learn more about glucosamine here.

Omega-3 fatty acids. The famous Omega-3 fatty acids with its numerous functions are also present here, being a component with a strong anti-inflammatory effect. According to the meta-analysis by Lee and colleagues, it appears that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids contributed to pain reduction and a gradual reduction in the use of analgesic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, the recent review by Deng and colleagues, which included over 2000 people, noted that supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids in patients with osteoarthritis helped to reduce pain and improve joint function in the absence of adverse side effects.
Learn more about omega-3 fatty acids here.

Collagen. Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in skin and connective tissue. Ubiquitous collagen can be an important aid, especially in dosages of 5-20g in peptide form. According to recent studies, it demonstrates very positive effects in reducing pain and at the same time improving the composition of connective tissue, enhancing its nourishment and thus its mobility.

Extra tip: Try a collagen supplement, in powder form, such as the best-selling Vital Collagen Peptide Supplement, as it contains the amounts needed to rebuild joint ligament structure. The best part? It's tasteless and can easily be added to your coffee or any meal!

You can learn more here.

In order to determine if a supplement is effective for the purpose for which it is taken, we need to be consistent in its proper use for at least 3-5 months!

Arthritis is a chronic disease whose symptoms appear gradually and greatly reduce the quality of life of patients. The important thing to keep in mind is that we are given the opportunity to take care of it early and slow down the severity of symptoms that can occur...as long as we are proactive. Movement is a vital factor, which greatly contributes to a good quality of life.

We take care of it now, so we can still have it afterwards.