Understanding Senior Arthritis

Among those who are elderly, there are a number of conditions that are common and can have a significant effect on their life. These problems often appear more common, in part due to increased lifespans, which can be attributed to improvements in treatments, a higher quality of health care, and medical advancements. This is because as people live longer, they are at a higher risk for developing these diseases, which include dementia and arthritis.

Arthritis can be one of the most debilitating diseases that can affect the elderly, as it can significantly affect their range of movement, while causing pain and discomfort.

Of course, it is important to note that arthritis can affect those of all ages, with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and other types of arthritis being found in very young children. However, despite this, arthritis is still more common among those over 65, with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis being the two most common types of senior arthritis.

The symptoms of arthritis can vary greatly depending on what type of arthritis is present, but in most cases, arthritis causes joint pain, swelling, and inflammation. This is because it is common for arthritis to cause the cartilage between joints, which serves several purposes, including providing a sort of padding, to become damaged and even deteriorate completely. As a result, the joints are no longer protected and can rub together, sometimes causing small pieces of bone to break off in the joint. There are also a number of other ways arthritis can affect the body, with some types of arthritis causing damage to the organs in the body.

Treatment of arthritis varies, but there is no way to reveres its effects. Instead, doctors typically focus on trying to keep the disease from spreading, while limiting its effects on the patients life. Often, exercise and diet can provide a powerful tool for fighting the effects of arthritis, with doctors finding that even just a little bit of daily low impact exercise can help strengthen muscles and reduce joint pain. It is, however, essential to avoid high impact sports, such as soccer or running, with these actually putting a great deal of strain on the joints and actually increasing the risk of developing arthritis.

Water aerobics is a popular option for those who have arthritis, as water sports provide a way to get a great workout, without putting a lot of strain on the joints. In most cities with a YMCA or public pool, a water aerobics course is usually offered, which can be a great way to get some motivation or learn the basics of this powerful tool for treating arthritis pain.

Another powerful tool in the arsenal of those with arthritis is learning to live with arthritis. Living with arthritis is essential, as there is no way to roll back the effects of the disease, so finding ways to maintain ones lifestyle without being overly affected by arthritis is very important. At its most basic, living with arthritis relies upon identifying activities that are difficult or result in arthritis pain and then brainstorming ways of making these tasks easier, which often involves Arthritis Problem Solving Steps.

Of the diseases that are more common with age, arthritis is one of the more common ones, which often has a very major impact on the life of the elderly. However, with proper treatment, which often relies heavily on keeping the body healthy and fit, the effects can often be limited.