Osteoarthritis is one of the leading chronic health conditions in the nation. The CDC estimates that more than 32.5 million adults have this common form of arthritis. It’s caused by the deterioration of the cartilage in a joint where two bones meet.

The older you are, the more likely you are to have osteoarthritis. After the age of 50, women are more likely to develop it. Make sure you know the facts about osteoarthritis to help your parents manage the pain and discomfort effectively.

Surprising Facts About Osteoarthritis

What do you know about osteoarthritis? You probably know it happens as you get older. You might know that it’s pretty common. Here are some of the more surprising facts about osteoarthritis.

#1 – Half of All Adults With Osteoarthritis Are Too Young to Retire: Of those with osteoarthritis, 18.7 million are too young to retire. They must learn to manage the pain of osteoarthritis while also keeping up with the responsibilities of their job. This can be hard for people in more physically-demanding jobs like manufacturing, trades, and food service.

#2 – People Who Have Had a Knee Injury Are More Likely to Develop Osteoarthritis: Studies find that people who have had a knee injury at some point in their life are three to six times more likely to develop osteoarthritis. Avoiding knee injuries when playing sports, riding a bike or horse, or in a car crash may reduce the risk.

#3 – Glucosamine Hasn’t Been Found to Be an Effective Treatment: While people with arthritis often start taking joint supplements containing glucosamine, the NIH hasn’t found any proof that it helps. It may be wasting your money. If your parents take a blood-thinning medication, the supplements may interact with the blood-thinner.

#4 – Five Areas Are More Likely to Be Affected: Five areas of the body are the most likely to experience osteoarthritis. Those areas are the hands/fingers, hips, knees, lower back, and neck.

See a Doctor

Your mom or dad should see a doctor about joint pain caused by arthritis. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain relievers like Advil help control the pain. Warm and cold compresses can also help.

If the pain is severe, your parent may want to see a physical therapist to help improve mobility. The doctor may also have tips for diet and other ways to relieve the pain and discomfort.

Arthritis pain can be mild, but it can also be severe. If your mom or dad has osteoarthritis and struggles with tasks like laundry, meal planning and cooking, and housekeeping, it’s time to discuss home care.

With home care services, your mom or dad is supported and able to live at home. But, there’s a helper available to make sure your parent’s safety comes first.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Senior Care in Belmont, CA, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care.
Call today: (415) 795-2203

Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/

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Evan Loevner

CEO at Aviva In-Home Care

As a former hospital administrator, I launched Aviva with the goal of having a more focused, direct impact on the delivery of care than I could ever accomplish within a hospital setting. For me, the joy of running an organization like Aviva In-Home Care is having the ability to positively improve the lives of individuals needing customized care. As a passionate Bay Area resident, I know that many local seniors can benefit from new approaches to in-home care, that will bring them more connection to the community, and provide families with a greater sense of comfort that their loved one is indeed matched with an ideal caregiver.

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