| Arthritis Myths and Facts | |
| There
is so much contradicting information out there on arthritis that
it is hard to keep track of what is actually true about this
condition.
You
have probably heard a lot of things about Arthitis, true
and untrue. The list below contains 10 commonly believed
myths about arthritis, along with some facts that will answer
your questions: |
|
| MYTH
1: Arthritis are hereditary. These conditions are seldom passed on directly from parent to child, although some families seem to be susceptible to certain types of arthritis. MYTH 2: Arthritis are diseases of the bone only. Although the symptoms of arthritis generally originate around the ends of bones and in the joints, patients may develop low-grade fever, and feel tired or generally unwell. MYTH 3: All arthritic diseases are 'gouty' diseases. Gout is a specific type of arthritis caused by urate crystals forming in the joints (usually in the feet). Gout attacks are often sudden in onset and extremely painful. Other types of arthritis are generally slower in onset and are not caused by urate crystals in the joint the majority of people with raised uric acid do not have and will never get gout. MYTH 4: Arthritis and rheumatism are caused by particular foods, e.g. animal internal organs (such as heart or liver), nuts, dairy foods, acidic foods (e.g tomatoes). Gout is associated with diets high in purines (high levels of purines are found in animal internal organs, meat extracts, and oily fish), but there is no evidence that particular foods cause other arthritic conditions. MYTH 5: Arthritis and rheumatism are caused by aging. Some types of arthritis (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis) can occur at any age. Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that tends to manifest itself with advancing years. MYTH 6: Arthritis only occurs in females. It is true that females are at higher risk of developing certain types of arthritis, such as lupus (inflammation of the skin/connective tissue) or rheumatoid arthritis. But other types of arthritis, such as gout or ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis of the spine) occur more commonly in males. Men and women are equally likely to develop osteoarthritis. MYTH 7: Children do not get arthritis. Arthritis can affect people of any age, including children, although children only develop specific forms of arthritis (called juvenile chronic arthritis). The most common forms of arthritis occur in adults. MYTH 8: Nothing can be done to prevent arthritis. Although the exact causes of arthritis are unknown, regular exercise and maintaining a healthy bodyweight reduce the risk of developing osteoarthritis. Avoiding chronic stress on joints from over-use (e.g. during certain work-related activities) can also reduce the likelihood of developing arthritis. Some preventive measures have proven to be beneficial for patients who already have arthritis, e.g. charges in lifestyle may help to stop deterioration of their joints and avoid complications of the disease. MYTH 9: Physical activities and exercise are bad for arthritis. Physical activity is often painful for patients with arthritis, and they may be tempted to avoid exercise. However, regular gentle exercise maintains joint integrity and mobility. Many patients benefit from exercising in water, as this minimises the pressure on weight-bearing joints. Talk to your doctor or physiotherapist about safe and gentle exercises for you. MYTH 10: Joint injections are invariably harmful to joints. Injections of corticosteroids into the joint are often very helpful for controlling local inflammation in particularly painful joints. However, the overuse of these injections should be avoided. |
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