What is Osteoarthritis?
Elderly Care in Glenview IL: What is Osteoarthritis?
27 million Americans in the United States have osteoarthritis (OA), making it the most common form of arthritis. Although OA can occur at any age, people aged 65 and older have a higher chance of being diagnosed with OA. It’s a painful condition and can be difficult for seniors to live with since it can prevent them from doing some of their normal activities. If your parent complains of joint pain, they may be suffering from OA. Being informed about the condition can help you to determine if your parent needs to see a doctor who can determine if OA is the cause of the pain.
How does Osteoarthritis Affect Joints?
Any joint in the body can be affected by OA, but the knees, hips, hands, neck, and back are the most common places that OA occurs. In healthy joints, the ends of the bone are covered with a layer of cartilage. The purpose of the cartilage is to protect the bones from friction when the joint bends and to absorb the force of impact during walking or other movement. When a person has OA, the cartilage becomes less flexible and is more easily damaged. It begins to break down and wear away, leaving bones with less protection. When the cartilage breaks down, the ligaments and tendons in the joint stretch and cause pain. Eventually, parts of the bones may rub together.
Who is at Risk for Osteoarthritis?
Some of the risk factors for OA are:
- Excess Weight. Being overweight puts more strain on the joints, so the heavier a person is, the greater their risk for OA. Also, there is a protein produced in fat tissue that causes joint inflammation.
- Age. The risk for OA increases as a person ages, especially over the age of 65.
- Sex. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with OA than men.
- Injury. If your parent suffered an injury to a joint at any time in their life, they are at greater risk. This is true even if the injury seems to have healed completely.
- Heredity. OA can run in families, so having others in the family with OA puts your parent at greater risk.
- Occupation. Occupations that cause repetitive stress on a joint may lead to OA.
Although there’s nothing you can do about many of the risk factors for OA, you can help your parent to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, which can reduce the risks. If your parent is overweight, work with a doctor to create a plan for healthy weight loss. Hiring an elderly care provider through an agency may be helpful in reducing this particular risk factor. An elderly care provider can help by preparing healthy meals for your parent and encouraging them to be physically active. For example, if your parent is reluctant to go for walks or exercise because they fear injury, having an elderly care provider present can ease their worries and make them more likely to remain physically active.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Glenview, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.
Sources
https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/osteoarthritis/what-is-osteoarthritis.php
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoarthritis/home/ovc-20198248
https://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/guide/osteoarthritis-basics#1
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoarthritis/symptoms-causes/dxc-20198250
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