Obesity and arthritis
Yes, obesity is a major risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA) and can increase the severity of the disease:
Increased joint loading: Excess weight can put extra stress on joints, especially weight-bearing joints like the knees. This can increase the force on the knee by 30–60 pounds with each step.
Cartilage breakdown:- The extra stress on joints can lead to the destruction of articular cartilage.
Increased risk of surgery:- Obese patients are more likely to require total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
Reduced mobility:- Obesity and OA can reduce mobility, which can lead to further weight gain and decreased muscle strength. This can create a vicious cycle that increases joint problems and disease progression.
Foot ailments:- Obesity can lead to foot ailments like plantar fasciitis and heel pain.
Weight loss is a primary goal for obese individuals with OA. While your body can't reverse arthritis or regrow cartilage, losing weight can help stressed joints feel better and prevent further damage. Other ways to reduce arthritis symptoms include: Regular exercise, Heat and cold, and Assistive devices
Obesity and diseases
Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke, which are the leading causes of death worldwide. Being overweight can also lead to diabetes and its associated conditions, including blindness, limb amputations, and the need for dialysis. Rates of diabetes have quadrupled since around the world since 1980. Carrying excess weight can lead to musculoskeletal disorders including osteoarthritis. Obesity is also associated with some cancers, including endometrial, breast, ovarian, prostate, liver, gallbladder, kidney and colon. The risk of these noncommunicable diseases increases even when a person is only slightly overweight and grows more serious as the body mass index (BMI) climbs.
Obesity in childhood is associated with a wide range of serious health complications and an increased risk of premature onset of related illnesses. Studies have found that without intervention, children and adolescents with obesity will likely continue to be obese into adulthood.
Lifestyle diseases are medical conditions that are caused or made worse by a person's lifestyle choices. Some common lifestyle diseases include:
- Heart disease:- A major cause of death in India, with cardiovascular disorders accounting for 26% of all fatalities
- Diabetes:- An estimated 1 in 12 people in India have diabetes
- Cancer:- India is expected to see more than 1.73 million new cancer cases annually by 2020
- Respiratory diseases:- India had 22.2 million people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 35 million people with severe asthma in 2016
- Mental health:- 10% of people over 18 in India suffer from mental diseases
- Obesity:- The proportion of overweight and obese people in India increased between 2005 and 2015
Lifestyle diseases are often caused by unhealthy eating, lack of physical activity, smoking, alcohol, and substance use disorders. They are non-communicable diseases.
Some tips to prevent lifestyle disorders include:
- Eating a healthy diet
- Getting regular exercise
- Managing stress
- Reducing salt intake
- Quitting smoking
- Limiting alcohol intake
- Getting enough sleep
What is rheumatology
Rheumatology is a medical subspecialty that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. These diseases can affect the joints, muscles, bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues.
Rheumatic diseases can be caused by:
- Infections
- Inflammation
- Immune system problems
- Gradual deterioration of joints, muscles, and bones
Some common rheumatic diseases include:
- Arthritis, such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis
- Connective tissue diseases, such as lupus, scleroderma, and dermatomyositis Vasculitis
- Chronic pain syndrome
- Joint hypermobility
Rheumatologists use lab tests and imaging tests like X-rays and MRIs to diagnose these conditions. They may also perform procedures like joint injections and muscle biopsies.
Rheumatologists may work with other specialists, such as primary care doctors, dermatologists, eye doctors, cardiologists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists.
who is a rheumatologist
A rheumatologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions that affect the joints, muscles, and bones. They are typically board-certified internists or pediatricians who have received additional training in rheumatology.
Rheumatologists treat a variety of conditions, including:
- Arthritis:-
A common rheumatic disease that can cause joint pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility
- Gout:-
An inflammatory arthritis that causes pain and swelling in the joints due to uric acid deposits
- Lupus:-
A chronic autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation and pain in any part of the body
- Psoriatic Arthritis:-
A chronic joint inflammation caused by autoimmune diseases and associated with psoriasis
Rheumatologists use lab tests, imaging scans, and other tests to diagnose conditions. They help people manage musculoskeletal pain and repress chronic inflammation.
Diseases treated by rheumatologists
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Lupus (SLE)
- Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
- Behcet's disease
- Crystal related disorders - Gout ( uric acid deposition disease)
- Infection-related rheumatic diseases like post viral arthritis, post Chikungunya arthritis
- Inflammatory arthritis
- Inflammatory myopathies/li>
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis ( arthritis in children)
- Metabolic bone diseases and osteoporosis
- Mixed connective tissue disease
- Osteoarthritis and other
- Cervical spondylitis
- Prolapsed inter vertebral disc disease
- Back and neck pain
- Sarcoidosis
- Sjögren's syndrome
- Spondyloarthritis
- Systemic sclerosis
- Vasculitis, small and medium size vessels - like Granulomatosus with polyangitis ( Werner granulomatosis )
- Vasculitis, large vessels including giant cell arteries, takayasu Arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica
- Vitamin Deficiency
