World Arthritis Day- Don’t Delay, Connect Today
World Arthritis Day- Don’t Delay, Connect Today
Every year 12thof October is observed as World Arthritis Day to spread awareness about arthritis. The initiative was established by ARI (Arthritis and Rheumatism International) to help people in resolving issues related to rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs).
On this day, organizations conduct activities to promote awareness and boost access to proper treatment as promptly as possible.
Arthritis is one of the most common diseases in the world. It affects nearly 25 per cent of adults during their lives, in some form or the other. Ironically, people do not know much about what it actually is. It is one of the topmost reasons for disability worldwide.
“Don’t Delay, Connect Today”
The above is a theme launched by EULAR on World Arthritis Day, in 2017. It stresses the need for early diagnosis and treatment. Early detection and cure are important from the patient’s as well as health professional’s point of view. When you connect early with your orthopaedic surgeon, it can mean a lot for your future mobility and ease of life. He can help you in enormous ways to improve your bone, joint and muscular strength. Raising awareness can affect the health of a nation as a whole. The overall perspective of this campaign is to highlight RMDs as a major public health issue to the people, medical professionals, and policy-makers.
Unless the condition is detected early and treated as such, it causes further damage and lowers the quality of life of people it affects. The family or caretakers of the patient are also disturbed by the trauma it causes.
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints- a condition that causes soreness and tenderness in one or multiple joints in the body. It causes stiffness and pain that increases with time. However, this term is broadly used to describe more than 100 types of rheumatic conditions that affect the tissues and muscles surrounded by joints.
Arthritis facts
- The most common forms of arthritis are Osteoarthritis, gout, fibromyalgia, and Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Maintaining an optimum body weight considerably reduces the risk of developing the condition.
- Arthritis can affect anyone, at any age, even children.
- Arthritis can lead to other lifestyle diseases due to a lack of movements such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
- At the outset, arthritis can be controlled with medication. Advanced stages mandate treatments that are more extensive. A fully facilitated orthopaedic hospital provides advanced care like Plasma therapy, joint lubrication and replacement prescriptions.
- Arthritis impacts not only the physical but also the mental health and emotional well-being of the patient.
How does WAD help people?
World Arthritis Day provides an opportunity where people get solidarity. They become aware that they are not alone. That there is hope after diagnosis. The patients gain knowledge about the disease, its treatments, and new researches. Various campaigns, activities, videos, and discussions lend momentum to efforts that can achieve something bigger. The threshold becomes higher and governments also listen and lend support wherever is needed.
Tips for living with arthritis
As a person with bad joint health, you know that any shortcoming on your part can aggravate the condition and vice versa. So, here are a few reminders for taking care:
Live healthily– be aware of how you lead your life. Improve the general well-being by sleeping for regular 7-8 hours and avoiding smoking& alcohol. Manage your stress and anger – both these emotions control your mind and detriment your chemical biology. They increase muscular tension too and have an adverse effect on joints.
Eat healthily– do not eat just for the sake of eating. Take a balanced diet with the right proportion of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Keep your body healthy – and active. Whatever stage of arthritis one has, constant physical activity is vital. It checks further deterioration of joints and strengthens the muscles and delicate tissues around them. You can consult your orthopaedic for the exercises or activities best suited to your condition. In general, walking, cycling, yoga, and swimming enhance fitness and bone health.