Caring Your Joints With Aging!
Skin is one of the most obvious parts
of our body which ages with an increase in the number of candles on our
birthday cakes. As you age, joints tend to become stiffer and less
flexible. The body does not recover from bumps and bruises as easily as
it did before, and it becomes difficult to stand for extended time
intervals. This is caused mostly by a breakdown of cartilage and
inflammation of the synovium.
What is cartilage?
Cartilage is a flexible connective
tissue. It connects the ends of two bones in a joint. It is softer than
bone tissue but less flexible than muscle tissue. Cartilage is
responsible for the smooth movement of joints.
With age, cartilage begins to degenerate. As the cartilage gets thinner, movement becomes more and more difficult. If left untreated, the cartilage may completely wear off leaving no buffer between the bones. This is one of the leading causes of knee replacement surgery.
With age, cartilage begins to degenerate. As the cartilage gets thinner, movement becomes more and more difficult. If left untreated, the cartilage may completely wear off leaving no buffer between the bones. This is one of the leading causes of knee replacement surgery.
What is synovium?
Synovium is a membrane responsible for
keeping the cartilage healthy. It produces a thick fluid that keeps the
cartilage and joint lubricated. In cases of osteoarthritis, this
membrane can swell up and produce excess fluid. This in turn causes the
joint to swell as well.
Along with age, factors like being overweight, genetics, gender and lifestyle also play a role in the condition of your joints. Being obese points towards a sedentary lifestyle and puts extra pressure on joints, leading to the thinning of cartilage. While men have higher chances of becoming osteoarthritis patients before 45, women have higher chances of developing this disease after 50. A healthy lifestyle is the easiest way to ensure that your joints work well even when you’re old and grey.
Along with age, factors like being overweight, genetics, gender and lifestyle also play a role in the condition of your joints. Being obese points towards a sedentary lifestyle and puts extra pressure on joints, leading to the thinning of cartilage. While men have higher chances of becoming osteoarthritis patients before 45, women have higher chances of developing this disease after 50. A healthy lifestyle is the easiest way to ensure that your joints work well even when you’re old and grey.
Exercise
Movement of the joints keeps the fluid in
them moving. It also prevents the cartilage from shrinking and
stiffening up. Exercise also makes the bones stronger, and slows the
rate of bone tissue deterioration. Stretching exercises are also a good
way to maintain the flexibility of joints.
Healthy diet
Foods that are known as natural anti
histamines, antioxidants and foods that fight inflammation promote
healthy joints. Some of these are:
Green tea: It prevents the breakdown of collagen and cartilage
Nuts and seeds: These are rich in omega 3 fats that are essential for good bone health
Ginger: It relieves pain and joint swelling
Yogurt: It helps soothe tender joints and fights inflammation
Pomegranate: It protects the cartilage against damage
Nuts and seeds: These are rich in omega 3 fats that are essential for good bone health
Ginger: It relieves pain and joint swelling
Yogurt: It helps soothe tender joints and fights inflammation
Pomegranate: It protects the cartilage against damage
Hot and cold therapy can also help
relieve joint pain and reduce inflammation. As you get older, avoid
putting too much pressure on your joints and give them adequate rest.
Lastly, avoid smoking, as people who smoke have an increased risk of
cartilage loss.
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