What The Heck Is Arthritis And What Can I Do About It?

Arthritis is a process that affects our joints, including the shoulders, knees and hips.

It can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling, making it harder to move around and do normal things like playing sports, hiking, and when severe, activists that we take for granted such as walking short distances, standing for 20 minutes to cook dinner, or carrying a shopping bag of groceries.

There are different types of arthritis, but the most common one is called osteoarthritis(OA).

Other less common types include rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.

Osteoarthritis happens when the protective cushioning between our bones, called cartilage, starts to wear away over time. When the cartilage gets damaged, it can lead to pain and difficulty moving the joint smoothly.

People have learned a lot about how osteoarthritis (OA) develops and progresses. And research is continuing to find new discoveries.

Osteoarthritis starts with certain cells in the body, called immunogenic cells like macrophages, that can make OA worse by causing inflammation in the early stages.

Immunogenic cells are cells that have the potential to trigger an immune response. These cells are capable of stimulating the body’s defense system and activating cells such as lymphocytes and macrophages.

Then, there are molecules called pro-inflammatory cytokines, like tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β, which break down cartilage . At the molecular level, we can see changes like increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreased growth factors, which affect the health of the joint .

Arthritis can affect anyone, including kids but more frequently adults. Some things that increase the risk of developing arthritis are getting older, injuries, or having certain diseases like diabetes.

Having high levels of sugar in the blood, even without a diagnosis of diabetes can increase the chances of getting osteoarthritis. We’re not exactly sure how this happens, but there are a few reasons why it might be the case:

1. Inflammation: High blood sugar can cause ongoing inflammation in the body, which can harm the joints and make osteoarthritis worse.

2. Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs): When blood sugar is high, it can create certain substances that can build up in the joints and affect how they work. This can lead to osteoarthritis.

3. Obesity: High blood sugar is often linked with being overweight. Carrying extra weight puts more pressure on the joints, especially the ones that support our body weight, like the knees and hips. This extra pressure can increase the risk of joint damage and osteoarthritis.

Some studies also suggest a potential association between hypertension and an increased risk of knee osteoarthritis.

If you think you might have arthritis or are concerned about joint pain, it's important to talk to a doctor.

They can help figure out what's going on and recommend the best ways to treat and manage the condition.