Arthritis is a disease that affects one or more joints in humans. It is associated with inflammation or degeneration of the affected joints along with pain, swelling, and reduced functionality. Arthritis in seniors, as can be understood from the name is arthritis affecting the elderly. With age, the pain tends to increase, thereby affecting mobility to a great extent. Therefore, immense care and proper treatment, as well as arthritis prevention methods, need to be opted to handle the condition in the right way.
Symptoms of Arthritis in Seniors
Arthritis in seniors comes with an array of signs and symptoms that needs to be carefully monitored. Identifying the symptoms early can result in getting proper as well as timely treatment to prevent the symptoms from further worsening.
If any of these signs and symptoms tend to last for more than two weeks, it is recommended to consult an expert without wasting any more time to get the proper treatment for the same.
Most Common Types of Arthritis in Seniors
Here are a few of the most common types of arthritis in seniors.
Osteoarthritis – It is the most common type of arthritis in seniors. It is also referred to as wear & tear arthritis or degenerative arthritis that occurs when joint cartilage breaks down as a result of repeated stress.
Ankylosing Spondylitis – It is a type of inflammatory arthritis that affects the spine and large joints usually the lower back.
Gout – It is another common type of inflammatory arthritis that results in the formation of hard uric acid crystals in the joints.
Rheumatoid Arthritis – It is a form of inflammatory arthritis that causes the immune system of the body to attack the synovial membranes present in the joints.
Psoriatic Arthritis – It refers to the inflammation of joints that develops in people affected with psoriasis, an autoimmune disorder that causes skin irritation.
Septic Arthritis – Septic arthritis is caused as a result of viral, bacterial, or fungal infections. This form of arthritis can develop via skin infection, urinary tract infection, and others that spread through the bloodstream to a joint.
Caring for Arthritis in Seniors
It is extremely important to provide proper care for arthritis in seniors. Proper and timely care can help manage symptoms efficiently as well as effectively. Here are the steps to follow.
Medications – The doctors use different medications to treat pain and swelling associated with arthritis. Taking the prescribed medicines on time can help manage the symptoms effectively.
Physical Activities – Staying physically active is of immense importance in this regard. There are specific senior arthritis exercises such as swimming, yoga, walking, stretching, etc. that can prove to be helpful in managing different types of arthritis. It is recommended to consult a healthcare expert before doing any physical activities.
Weight Management – Appropriately managing weight can prove to be helpful in reducing additional pressure on the joints, thereby lowering the pain in the joints. Maintaining a healthy diet and following the exercise guidelines can be highly effective.
Adjustment of Residential Environment – Weather and temperature can affect the symptoms of arthritis. If any affected individual notices that cold, humid, or hot weather worsen the symptoms, the residential environment needs to be adjusted accordingly for keeping symptoms under control.
Regular Medical Care – Seniors affected with arthritis should seek regular medical care and physiotherapy home care services as per the needs to better manage arthritis.
Arthritis Homecare for Seniors at Athulya Homecare
Athulya Homecare is one of the most trusted and reputed home care services in Chennai catering to the individualized needs of people ensuring a hundred percent satisfaction among all. It is understood that living with arthritis can be quite challenging, but Athulya Homecare helps the affected individuals appropriately manage the symptoms with professional help.
At Athulya, seniors can expect top-notch physiotherapy home care services and premium quality home nursing care for the elderly to make sure they live a high quality as well as satisfying life even with arthritis. With adequately trained and vastly experienced staff, Athulya Homecare is undoubtedly one of the best for seniors to play the second innings of their life in the best possible manner.
FAQs
- What causes arthritis?
The exact cause of different forms of arthritis is still not known. Several factors like genetics, environmental conditions, lifestyle, and others are considered to be some of the causes of arthritis. But we know that gout, a type of arthritis is caused by an excessive amount of uric acid in the body.
- What should I do if I see the symptoms of arthritis?
Whenever you notice any signs and symptoms of arthritis such as pain, swelling, or stiffness in and around the joints, you should consult a healthcare expert without wasting even a moment. Delaying the treatment can result in further worsening of the condition or symptoms and cause more severe damage to the affected joints.
- Who is at greater risk from arthritis?
There are a number of risk factors that make it more likely to develop arthritis. Being overweight, obesity, joint infection, joint injuries, occupational causes, and smoking are a few risk factors that elevate the chances of developing arthritis. All these factors are controllable but there are a few uncontrollable ones such as age, genetics, etc. By managing the controllable risk factors appropriately, the risk for developing arthritis is lowered to some extent.
- Can arthritis be cured?
No, there is no specific cure for arthritis. But the treatments have drastically improved over the years that play a vital role in helping to control pain, reduce swelling, minimize the damage of affected joints, improve physical functioning as well as mobility and enhance the quality of life.
