Early Symptoms You Should Not Ignore

Contributed by: Anjali Sharma 

Introduction 

Since 1996, October 12 has been recognised as World Arthritis Day (WAD). The goal of this day is to increase public awareness of the prevalence of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases or RMDs. 

A condition that affects the joints is arthritis. Joint aches, oedema, stiffness, skin redness, and decreased joint mobility are some of its common symptoms. The word ‘arthritis’ covers more than 100 rheumatic disease subtypes. The most widespread and typical kind of arthritis is likely osteoarthritis.

Age-related degeneration typically affects the fingers, knees, and hips. Gout, lupus, fibromyalgia, and septic arthritis are some of the additional rheumatic illness categories.

World Arthritis Day 2022 Theme

‘It’s in your hands, take action’ is the theme for this year. The purpose of the topic is to increase illness awareness among patients, carers, families, and the general public. Today calls for immediate action to be made in the fight against arthritis, keeping in mind that thanks to current technology and its cutting-edge technologies, the illness may one day be completely eradicated.

World Arthritis Day 2022: Significance 

The importance of World Arthritis Day is that it raises awareness by focusing the world’s attention for one day on a debilitating and silent condition that affects the general populace. More individuals will be able to recognise their illness and receive the appropriate therapy the more people are aware of the disease, its symptoms, and remedies.

In addition, World Arthritis Day fosters a network where sufferers, their loved ones, carers, and others may share their stories. On top of highlighting new developments in the fight against the disease, the day also highlights how far science and people have come.

World Arthritis Day 2022: History 

Inflammation of the joints is a sign of arthritis, which is derived from the Greek words ‘arthro” for joint and ‘itis’ for inflammation. The first records of this illness date back to 4500 BC, and prehistoric humans were regularly affected by it. Dr. Alfred Baring Garrod, a British rheumatologist, first used the term ‘rheumatoid arthritis’ in 1859.

World Arthritis Day 2022: Know the early signs and symptoms

Since arthritis affects the joints, its earliest symptoms have an impact on how well your joints work. A few of these are:

Joint pain

Joint pain, often referred to as arthralgia medically, is the initial indication of arthritis. Usually, there is a dull aching and a burning feeling along with the discomfort. Continuous usage of the joints causes further discomfort.

Inflammation and sensitivity

Arthritis-related discomfort in the joints can cause them to enlarge. In people with arthritis, the synovial fluid that acts as a lubricant in the joints is overproduced. This causes inflammation in the joints.

The patient’s ability to move is also limited by this.

Color

Additionally, some individuals may see redness around their joints when suffering with arthiritis.

Rigidity, particularly in the morning

A lot of people report stiffness in the morning. When it rains or the humidity changes, the stiffness and discomfort worsens.

Who is at risk of developing arthritis?

• Those who are fat or overweight have a higher risk of developing arthritis. The more weight you carry, the more strain you put on your feet, back, and hips.

• Eating foods that have undergone excessive processing, such as sugar and white flour, can cause weight gain, which is difficult for achy joints. Replace them with nutritious grains, nuts, and fruits.

• The condition known as ‘smartphone thumb’ can be brought on by often texting and holding your phone for too long. Texting puts a strain on your wrists, particularly your thumbs. So, if you want to prevent arthritis, try to avoid thumb texting or utilise the voice-to-text feature. Additionally, texting might be terrible for your neck and shoulders, according to doctors.

• Wearing high heels all the time puts your feet in an uncomfortable position that strains joints and muscles and can cause your spine to be out of alignment. Women who often wear heels should be aware that this practice may raise their risk of osteoarthritis and foot discomfort.

• Injuries are a risk factor as well. When compared to individuals who had not experienced an accident, people who had damaged a knee as adolescents or young adults were three times more likely to develop osteoarthritis in that knee.

Final thoughts 

Arthritis can limit movements and even make it difficult to sit up straight if it is not addressed. This bone-related illness often becomes worse with age. Every year on October 12, World Arthritis Day is acknowledged to raise awareness of this critical medical illness. 

This subject aims to motivate those who have arthritis, their families, carers, and other individuals to take the required steps to enhance the quality of life for arthritis sufferers.

Furthermore, you should also undergo preventive health checkups. These health checks give a complete report about your health, allowing you to take necessary precautionary measures to improve your well-being and keep a host of ailments at bay.

Book The Full Body Good Health Test Today!