Question

Case Scenario: A 75-year-old woman is in for her yearly exam. She states that sleep is challenging as she has pain in her upper back. She has been in good health other than the pain from her back. She has led an active life as a tennis player and states her activities are diminished by the pain. The doctor diagnoses osteoarthritis.

Question: Explain risk factors for osteoarthritis, detailing who might be at most risk for the disease. Support your answer using specific facts, data, examples, and other information

Answer 1

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis , it affects millions of people around the world . It occurs when the protective cartilage that act as a cushoins the end of our bones weras down over the time . Although osteoarthritis can damage any joint , this disorder most commonly affects joints in our hands, knees, hips,and the spine.

Osteoarthritis symptoms develop slowly and become worsen over the time , Sign and symptoms of osteoarthritis includes;- Pain , stiffness, tenderness, loss of fexibility , grating sensations , Bone spurs , and the swelling around the joints.

Risk factors of Osteoarthritis

Factors that can increase the risk of osteoarthritis are as given below;-

• Getting old age ;- The risk of osteoarthritis increase with the age , thus , older peoples are suffered more commonly ,
• Gender ;- women are more likely to devlop osteoarthritis , than the men ,
• Obesity ;- Carrying extra body weight contributes to osteoarthiritis by several ways , so, the more we weigh , the greater we are in risk , Increase weigh adds stress to weight bearing joints, such as our hips , and knees, Also, fat tissues produces proteins that can cuase harmful inflammation in and around our joints ,
• Joint injuries ;- Injuries , such as those that occur when playing sports or from an accident , can increase the risk of osteoarthritis , Even injuries that occured many years ago and seemingly healed can increase our risk of osteoarthiritis .
• Repeated stress on the joint ;- If our job or a sport we play places repetitive stress on a joint , that might eventually develop osteoarthiritis .
• Genetics factors ;- Some people are inherit a tendency to develop osteoarthiritis
• Bone deformities;- Some people are born with malformed joints or defective cartilage .
• Certain metabolic disease ;- These include diabetes and a condition which our body has too much iron or hemochromatosis.
• FAmily history ;- osteoarthiritis runs in families s. if our parents or siblings have osteoarthiritis , then we are more likely to as well . AS, no gene has yet been identified as the cause , but genes may contribute to osteoarthiritis risk .
• Poor posture ;- sitting or standing improperly can stain our joints , this can increase the risk of osteoarthiritis,
• Certain occupations;- Repetitive actions can put undue stress on our joints and occupations that require such repetitive actions can increase . Osteoarthiritis risk job that fits this category might included are as given below;-
  • kneelimg or squatting for more than an hour a day.
  • lifting jobs
  • climbinng stairs
  • walking jobs
  • people who regularly participate in joints intensive sports may also risk to develop osteoarthiritis .

Changes in wheather can worsen symptoms of osteoarthiritis . people with osteoarthirits are often especially sensitive to cold , damp weather .

Staying still for too long can cause our joints to stiffen , This makes the movement more likely to hurt , and the  lack of activity during the night may partially explain why osteoarthirits pain is often worse when people wake up.