Risk factors of arthritis
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Loading ...A risk factor is condition or an activity either external or internal which increases your likelihood of developing a disease. So we have to say “The more risk factors you have the higher the risk of developing that disease.” Let us discuss briefly about the risk factors of arthritis.
Determining the cause of arthritis can be difficult, because we have so many types of arthritis and often several factors contribute to this common problem in an individual.
Generally the risk factors associated with Osteoarthritis (OA) are different from that of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), but we have some of them in common such as age, gender and genetic factors. Clinical researches and other experiments found that certain factors have been shown to be associated with a greater risk of arthritis. Some of these risk factors are modifiable while others are not.
Non-modifiable risk factors
- Age: The risk of developing most types of arthritis increases with age. This is because the cartilage becomes more brittle as we grew older and has less of a capacity to repair on its own.
- Gender: Women are more prone to most types of arthritis. 60% of all people with arthritis are women. Gout is more common in men.
- Genetics: Exactly how much heredity or genetics contributes to the cause of arthritis is not well understood. However, there are likely genetic variations that can contribute to the cause of arthritis. Researchers insist that Specific genes are associated with a higher risk of certain types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), and ankylosing spondylitis.
- Environmental Factors: Experts believe that auto immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) need something to trigger them. This environmental trigger may be only effective on people whose genetic makeup makes them susceptible to the disease. This may be an infection due to a virus or bacterium. This does not mean that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) itself is contagious. It cannot be transmitted from person to person.
Modifiable risk factors
- Overweight and Obesity: Excess weight can contribute to both the onset and progression of knee osteoarthritis. Because joint damage is partly dependent on the load the joint has to support, excess body weight can lead to arthritis. This is especially true of the hips and knees that can be worn quickly in heavier patients.
- Joint Injuries: Previous major injuries can be part of the cause of arthritis. Damage to a joint can contribute to the development of osteoarthritis in that joint. Joint damage can cause irregularities in the normal smooth joint surface.
- Occupation: Certain occupations involving repetitive knee bending and squatting are associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.
- Illness or infection: People, who experience a joint infection (septic joint), multiple episodes of gout, or other medical conditions, can develop arthritis of the joint.
- Dietary factors: In general, higher intakes of protein and caffeine and lower intakes of fruits and vegetables containing vitamin C increase the risk of Rheumatoid arthritis. Gout is one of the forms of arthritis most affected by diet. Fruits and vegetables may cut arthritis risk and reduce inflammation certain carotenoids, including beta-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin, may reduce risk of arthritis.
When evaluating the risk factors of arthritis we have to keep a fact in mind that any of the above factors alone can not lead to the disease. They are only danger signals; you can avoid the real danger by taking proper precautionary measures.
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