OSTEOARTHRITIS DISEASE AND DIET

Osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown of cartilage in one or more joints. Cartilage is a protein substance that serves as a "cushion" between the bones of the joints. Cartilage is composed of 65 to 80 percent water, collagen (fibrous proteins), (proteins and sugars which interweave with collagen), and chondrocytes (cells that produce cartilage).



Healthy cartilage allows bones to glide over one another. In osteoarthritis, the surface layer of cartilage breaks down and wears away. This allows bones under the cartilage to rub together, causing pain, swelling, and loss of motion of the joint. Over time, the joint may lose its normal shape. Also, bone spurs - small growths called osteophytes- may grow on the edges of the joint. Bits of bone or cartilage can break off and float inside the joint space. This causes more pain and damage.

Now you can be a confident expert on osteoarthritis . OK, maybe not an expert. But you should have something to bring to the table next time you join a discussion on osteoarthritis .

Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease, wear-and-tear arthritis, and osteoarthrosis. Osteoarthritis most often occurs at the ends of the fingers, thumbs, neck, lower back, knees, hips feet, and spine.
Among the over 100 different types of arthritis conditions.

Osteoarthritis Symptoms
By : Mayo Clinic Staff

Osteoarthritis symptoms often develop slowly and worsen over time. Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

* Pain. Your joint may hurt during or after movement.
* Tenderness. Your joint may feel tender when you apply light pressure to it.
* Stiffness. Joint stiffness may be most noticeable when you wake up in the morning or after a period of inactivity.
* Loss of flexibility. You may not be able to move your joint through its full range of motion.
* Grating sensation. You may hear or feel a grating sensation when you use the joint.
* Bone spurs. These extra bits of bone, which feel like hard lumps, may form around the affected joint. Specific joints are affected:

• Fingers: Bone enlargements in the fingertips (first joint) are common. These are called Heberden nodes. They are usually not painful. Sometimes they can develop suddenly and are painful, swollen, and red. This is known as nodal osteoarthritis and occurs in women older than 45 years.
• Hip: The hips are major weight-bearing joints. Involvement of the hips may be seen more in men. Farmers, construction workers, and firefighters have been found to have an increased incidence of hip osteoarthritis. Researchers think that a heavy physical workload contributes to OA of the hip and knee.
• Knees: The knees are also major weight-bearing joints. Repetitive squatting and kneeling may promote osteoarthritis.
• Spine: Osteoarthritis of the spine can cause bone spurs or osteophytes, which can pinch or crowd nerves and cause pain and potentially weakness in the arms or legs.
• Pain with no benefit from common pain relievers.
• Confusion regarding the diagnosis (Osteoarthritis can be confused with rheumatoid arthritis.)
• Disability or loss of mobility, especially if sudden
  
  

When to see a doctor

If you have swelling or stiffness in your joints that lasts for more than two weeks, make an appointment with your doctor. If you're already taking medication for osteoarthritis, contact your doctor if you experience side effects such as:

* Nausea
* Abdominal discomfort
* Black or tarry stools
* Constipation
* Drowsiness

What Causes of Osteoarthrotis?
By: emedicine heallth

Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in your joints deteriorates over time. The smooth surface of the cartilage becomes rough, causing irritation. Eventually, if the cartilage wears down completely, you may be left with bone rubbing on bone — causing the ends of your bones to become damaged and your joints to become painful.

It isn't clear what causes osteoarthritis in most cases. Researchers suspect that it's a combination of factors, including:

* The aging process

* Joint injury or stress

* Heredity

* Muscle weakness

* Endocrine: People with diabetes may be prone to osteoarthritis. Other endocrine problems also may promote development, including acromegaly, hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, and obesity.

* Posttraumatic: Traumatic causes can be further divided into macrotrauma or microtrauma. An example of macrotrauma is an injury to the joint such as a bone break causing the bones to line up improperly (malalignment), lose stability, or damage cartilage. Microtrauma may occur over time (chronically). An example of this would be repetitive movements or the overuse noted in several occupations.

* Inflammatory joint diseases: This category would include infected joints, chronic gouty arthritis, and rheumatoid disease.

* Metabolic: Diseases causing errors of metabolism may cause osteoarthritis. Examples include Paget disease and Wilson disease.

* Congenital or developmental: Abnormal anatomy such as unequal leg length may be a cause of osteoarthritis.

* Genetic: A genetic defect may promote breakdown of the protective architecture of cartilage. Examples include collagen disturbances such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

* Neuropathic: Diseases such as diabetes can cause nerve problems. The loss of sensation may affect how the body knows the position and condition of the joints or limbs. In other words, the body can't tell when it is injured.

* Other: Nutritional problems may cause osteoarthritis. Other diseases such as hemophilia and sickle cell are further examples.


What is Osteoathritis Treatment ?

1. Keep your body weight at Ideal body weight.
2. Avoid food that are high in fat, high in sugar, high protein.
   
3. Drink at least 8 glasses of filtered water a day.
4. NO alcohol, NO tobacco, NO Dairy Products.
5. Spinach, cranberries, plums, buckwheat, nuts, is High In Oxalic Acid Antioxidant.
6. Diet : Vitamins C and E may provide some protection. Vitamin D and Calcium are recommended for strong bones. The recommended daily dose of Calcium is 1000-1200 mg. The current guideline for Vitamin D is 400 per day. Avoid more than 1200 IU of vitamin D per day. Calcium; vitamin D is also used to prevent osteoporosis.
7. Exercise is helpful in osteoarthritis in several ways. Swimming, walking, running , cycling, aerobic, strengthening . Regular exercise may help to strengthen the muscles and potentially stimulate cartilage growth. Avoid high-impact sports.
8. Assistive devices or Orthoses . These assistive devices are used to improve function of moveable parts of the body or to support, align, prevent, or correct deformities. Splints or braces help with joint alignment and weight redistribution. Other examples include walkers, crutches or canes, and orthopedic footwear.
9. Acupuncture.
10. Supplement : evening primrose oil, ginger, niacin, omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha- acid, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. Chondroitin and glucosamine are dietary supplements used together to help ease the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
11. Heat: Hot soaks and warm wax (paraffin) application may relieve pain.