<p>Given the sedentary lifestyle of the youth, arthritis is haunting the younger age groups these days, writes Dr Biren Nadkarni.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Over 15 million people worldwide suffer knee joint failure each year due to the breakdown of surrounding cartilage in the joint. <br /><br />It was supposed to be a condition affecting the elderly. Till a few years back it was common knowledge that joint problems spared the young but not anymore. In fact, 15% of the Indian population suffers from cartilage decay every year. According the Indian Arthritic Foundation, by 2030, an estimated 67 million Indians aged 18 years or older are projected to be diagnosed with arthritis.<br /><br />Cartilage is a flexible connective tissue, found in the joints between bones, which prevents the bones from rubbing against each other. <br /><br />Cartilage acts as a cushion between the joints. It also reduces friction in the joint with movement. The cartilage also holds some bones together, the rib cartilage for instance.<br /><br /> For every 1-unit increase in body mass index (BMI), the risk of rapid cartilage loss increases by 11%. Therefore, excess weight gain is a significant factor in inducing arthritis at a young age.<br /><br />Cartilage also forms bone when you are growing - the ends of your long bones (arm and leg bones) are formed of cartilage when you are young, and this gradually changes into bone and grows longer. <br /><br />The cartilage between our bones gets compressed by standing, sitting and other daily activities as the day goes on. Degeneration of cartilage starts after the age of 40 years and above and sometimes earlier in case of injuries to the joint. <br /><br />Obesity is also the factor which causes the cartilage to wear out early as those having a sedentary lifestyle have weak muscles resulting in the pressure of the body centering on the joints. <br /><br />This causes early depletion of cartilage. These changes most likely are the result of an age-related decrease in the ability of chondrocytes (main cells responsible for maintaining the cartilage) to maintain and repair the cartilage tissue. <br /><br />Age-related changes in articular cartilage can contribute to the development and progression of osteoarthritis. <br /><br />As the cushioning cartilage begins to break down from a lifetime of use, joints become inflamed and arthritic. The cartilage covering bones in the joint region (called articular cartilage) undergoes thinning with age and activity, resulting in bone rubbing against bone, reduced movements, and pain.<br /><br />Also, the ends of the bones may thicken and form bony growths called ‘spurs'. <br /><br />Osteoarthritis affects the joints exposed to high stress (like knee and hip) and is considered the result of daily wear and tear affecting the cartilage in the joints.<br /><br />Here are some symptoms that help in early detection:<br /><br />* It usually happens after the age of 40 and develops slowly over a periods of years. <br /><br />* It mainly affects the weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips. However, it may also involve small joints of finger (eg. in typists and computer operators due to overuse of finger joints) and the spine (eg. in old people).<br /><br />* The pain in knees may become worse after suddenly rising form a prolonged sitting posture and sometimes in damp or rainy seasons (possibly due to change in joint pressure with change in atmospheric pressure. <br /><br />* Early morning stiffness for not more that 30 minutes. <br /><br />* Creaking in the affected joint and a grinding sensation with joint motion <br /><br />* Joints are usually cold as there is no inflammation. <br /><br />* Does not affect the overall health of the person.<br /><br />* Should you have any of these symptoms, consult a doctor immediately.<br /><br />Many of the changes in our cartilage result more from disuse than from simple aging. <br /><br />Regular exercises, stretching, maintaining healthy exercise habit, and maintaining weight helps improve our cartilage strength.<br /><em><br /> (The writer is an Orthopedic and Joint Replacement Surgeon)</em></p>
<p>Given the sedentary lifestyle of the youth, arthritis is haunting the younger age groups these days, writes Dr Biren Nadkarni.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Over 15 million people worldwide suffer knee joint failure each year due to the breakdown of surrounding cartilage in the joint. <br /><br />It was supposed to be a condition affecting the elderly. Till a few years back it was common knowledge that joint problems spared the young but not anymore. In fact, 15% of the Indian population suffers from cartilage decay every year. According the Indian Arthritic Foundation, by 2030, an estimated 67 million Indians aged 18 years or older are projected to be diagnosed with arthritis.<br /><br />Cartilage is a flexible connective tissue, found in the joints between bones, which prevents the bones from rubbing against each other. <br /><br />Cartilage acts as a cushion between the joints. It also reduces friction in the joint with movement. The cartilage also holds some bones together, the rib cartilage for instance.<br /><br /> For every 1-unit increase in body mass index (BMI), the risk of rapid cartilage loss increases by 11%. Therefore, excess weight gain is a significant factor in inducing arthritis at a young age.<br /><br />Cartilage also forms bone when you are growing - the ends of your long bones (arm and leg bones) are formed of cartilage when you are young, and this gradually changes into bone and grows longer. <br /><br />The cartilage between our bones gets compressed by standing, sitting and other daily activities as the day goes on. Degeneration of cartilage starts after the age of 40 years and above and sometimes earlier in case of injuries to the joint. <br /><br />Obesity is also the factor which causes the cartilage to wear out early as those having a sedentary lifestyle have weak muscles resulting in the pressure of the body centering on the joints. <br /><br />This causes early depletion of cartilage. These changes most likely are the result of an age-related decrease in the ability of chondrocytes (main cells responsible for maintaining the cartilage) to maintain and repair the cartilage tissue. <br /><br />Age-related changes in articular cartilage can contribute to the development and progression of osteoarthritis. <br /><br />As the cushioning cartilage begins to break down from a lifetime of use, joints become inflamed and arthritic. The cartilage covering bones in the joint region (called articular cartilage) undergoes thinning with age and activity, resulting in bone rubbing against bone, reduced movements, and pain.<br /><br />Also, the ends of the bones may thicken and form bony growths called ‘spurs'. <br /><br />Osteoarthritis affects the joints exposed to high stress (like knee and hip) and is considered the result of daily wear and tear affecting the cartilage in the joints.<br /><br />Here are some symptoms that help in early detection:<br /><br />* It usually happens after the age of 40 and develops slowly over a periods of years. <br /><br />* It mainly affects the weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips. However, it may also involve small joints of finger (eg. in typists and computer operators due to overuse of finger joints) and the spine (eg. in old people).<br /><br />* The pain in knees may become worse after suddenly rising form a prolonged sitting posture and sometimes in damp or rainy seasons (possibly due to change in joint pressure with change in atmospheric pressure. <br /><br />* Early morning stiffness for not more that 30 minutes. <br /><br />* Creaking in the affected joint and a grinding sensation with joint motion <br /><br />* Joints are usually cold as there is no inflammation. <br /><br />* Does not affect the overall health of the person.<br /><br />* Should you have any of these symptoms, consult a doctor immediately.<br /><br />Many of the changes in our cartilage result more from disuse than from simple aging. <br /><br />Regular exercises, stretching, maintaining healthy exercise habit, and maintaining weight helps improve our cartilage strength.<br /><em><br /> (The writer is an Orthopedic and Joint Replacement Surgeon)</em></p>
