Arthritis is not novel to mankind. People from almost every walk of life get affected by this disease, at some point in their lifetime. It is a severely debilitating condition and most of the people are aware of this, not only literally, but virtually also. It is one of the commonest conditions occurring irrespective of age, but the middle age population is at a greater risk. It is a condition associated with excruciating pain and inflammation of the affected site. Arthritis means disease of joints. Several types of arthritis have been described but the most common among them is osteoarthritis which is a degenerative condition occurring with the advancing age. Other types of arthritis are Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, Gouty arthritis, Septic arthritis which is characterized by the swelling and pain at the affected site. Though the contributing factors are different in each form of arthritis, food, and food-derived products like Curcumin have shown a challenging role in the prevention of progression of the disease.

The burden of arthritis is increasing day by day. In a country like India, a large population remains undiagnosed owing to mild symptoms which often go unnoticed, and many a time people tackle the pains with over the counter medicines. Thus it becomes very hard to predict, the exact nature of the disease. Some research studies suggest that arthritis is most commonly seen in women than in men. Advancing age, obesity, lifestyle, stress, physical trauma, gender and heredity are some other contributing factors in arthritis. Let us know arthritis in brief.
It is a chronic disease that affects the quality of life to a great extent. It is primarily characterized by the inflammation of joints. Inflammation is the body’s mechanism to protect against the foreign invaders like bacteria, viruses, but sometimes our body starts attacking its cells, and as a result, inflammation occurs, as seen in arthritis.

The most commonly seen Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition. It affects the aged population. It occurs due to the erosion of spongy protection around the joint. This limits the mobility of the person owing to the pain arising due to the friction between the bones. It affects mainly the knee, elbow, ankle, hip, and spine. People with osteoarthritis experience debilitating pain, stiffness, and limited movements of the joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis belongs to the category of the disease where the body attacks its cells and produces swelling, pain, and stiffness of joints. The onset is sudden and the person experiences fever, fatigue, joint pain, and inflammation. It affects multiple joints like hands, feet, fingers, toes, hips. It has a fast progression. Morning stiffness that doesn’t go away with the progression of day is a classical observation in this ailment.

Psoriatic arthritis is a condition associated with the skin condition called psoriasis. This also presents with joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and skin patches. Sometimes arthritis begins before the skin patches appear.
Septic arthritis is the result of an already existing infection in the body that extends to a particular joint. It presents itself with fever, stiffness, and pain. It is often observed in childhood and the elderly.

Management of arthritis is a challenging task. It is a long-lasting debilitating disorder that drains patients emotionally as well as financially. This has diverted many people towards herbal and dietary supplements. Owing to its better safety profile, in-expensiveness, and efficacy, they are much preferred nowadays. These products enhance immunity and help in the maintenance of health.
As discussed in the earlier blogs, Curcumin is a plant-derived product having multiple actions that are useful to mankind. It possesses potent anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties. According to some research studies, curcumin slows down the progression of the disease and also helps in reducing pain and improves the function of the joints. This immensely improves the quality of life in arthritic patients. Thus proper diet, supplements, and lifestyle changes help in ameliorating troublesome arthritis to a great extent. Normal life will no longer be a dream for them with the introduction of a few right things to their routine. Hence,
It is up-to people to understand that chronic pains are not the end of their lives. People can live their fullest when they know what to do to keep their pains from getting back at them.

Dr. Sarika Patil
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