Osteoarthritis in Youngsters – Causes and Treatments

Even though most of you already know what osteoarthritis is, we will point out that this chronic degenerative disease leads to wear and tear of the joints, causing severe pain.

Once upon a time, this used to be a common disease for the senior citizens, but as times have changed, now more and more youngsters deal with this difficult issue. According to recent statistics, osteoarthritis is common for the age group of 25 to 35 years, which is obviously a worrying fact.

Causes of Osteoarthritis in Youngsters

Of course, genetic causes are to blame for this issue, but only a few of the youngsters with this disease have to deal with it because of this type of causes. Most of them have this chronic illness because of other factors, such as sedentary lifestyle, rising obesity, and unhealthy eating habits.

• Obesity – The Main Cause

The number of young individuals who suffer from obesity is increasing continuously. Junk food, irregular meals, alcoholism, smoking, and an unhealthy lifestyle are the primary causes of this serious issue. Unfortunately, most people tend to ignore obesity in its first stages, and this makes it dangerous for your health. Regular exercising and brisk walking, as well as cycling or other sports can help you to reduce obesity and have a weight that doesn’t put your overall health in danger.

Doctors stress upon the effort that your heart has to make daily to oxygenate your body, and how it is covered in a fat layer. But you should also think about how much weight is on your joints. If you double the normal weight, isn’t it logical to deal with the wear and tear of your joints much earlier?

A job that consists of spending your entire day in a chair, mechanical life, and no physical exercise are just a few of the causes that trigger this chronic disease. In these conditions, it is normal to have your knees, elbows, ankles or other joints swollen and to experience pain.

What you can do about it

There are a few things you can do to avoid osteoarthritis or improve your symptoms. Generally speaking, what you have to do is directly linked to the cause of the disease. Working on these aspects, you also eliminate their effects.

• Exercise regularly

Doing physical exercise regularly not only that helps you to lose weight and become fit, but it also helps your body to build strong mass in your bones. This will protect you from osteoarthritis even when you are getting older and can no longer exercise.

Moreover, if you are obese and lose weight through this method, the risk of joint surgery is considerably reduced, as well as the complications associated with such an intervention.

• Opt for a healthy diet

To avoid this chronic disease, go with a diet that includes plenty of nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, etc. These foods also help you overcome arthritis pain.

Make sure you take care of your joints’ cartilage by consuming high amounts of vegetables and citrus fruits.