Did you know over 50 million Americans have Arthritis? It is the number one cause of disability in the country. Arthritis is an umbrella term used to describe over 100 medical conditions and diseases, known as rheumatic diseases. There is no way to prevent arthritis but there are ways to reduce your risk and delay the potential onset of certain types of arthritis. There are some factors that are out of your control such as- increasing age, gender, and family history. Yet there are a few health habits you can change to reduce your risk of developing painful joints as you age. Many of these steps help prevent other diseases too.
Check out these 5 steps to help reduce the risk of arthritis:
- Eat Fish: Certain fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which have a number of health benefits- many reduce inflammation in the body.
- Control Your Weight: Being overweight or obese can take a toll on your knees. Overweight women are almost four times likely to get knee osteoarthritis as women of a healthy weight are.
- Exercise: Not only does it take stress of excess weight off your joints but it also strengthens the muscles around the joints, which protects them from wear and tear.
- Avoid Injury: Overtime your joints can start to wear out. When you injure your joints you can also damage the cartilage in the knee and cause it to wear out more quickly.
- See Your Doctor: If you do start develop arthritis, see your doctor or rheumatologist. The damage from arthritis is progressive, meaning that the longer you wait to seek treatment, the more destruction will occur to the joint.
