Arthritis is a leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting more than 350 million individuals. However, not everyone suffers from the same type of arthritis. There are over 100 different types of arthritis, each of which comes with its own set of symptoms, causes and risk factors. For this reason, not only is arthritis difficult to diagnose but also, it is difficult to a) determine a cause and b) calculate a person’s risk for it.
That said, certain factors are more likely to be associated with arthritis than others. Some the factors, such as age and autoimmune conditions, are uncontrollable, while others, such as previous injuries or lifestyle choices, you can control. While you cannot completely eliminate your risk of developing arthritis, you can reduce it by understanding what factors you can control.
Modifiable risk factors refer to risk factors over which you do have control. To get control over these, you may have to make a few lifestyle changes and approach life with more care. Below are the top modifiable risk factors and steps you can take to control them.
Because extra or excess weight puts increased pressure on the joints — especially those that bear considerable weight, such as the knees and hips — people who are overweight or obese tend to be more prone to arthritis than individuals of healthy weights. Particularly, osteoarthritis of the knees is common in overweight people. If you developed osteoarthritis when of a healthy weight, putting on extra weight could exacerbate it.
If your doctor has diagnosed you as being overweight or obese, start taking steps now to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, before your joints begin to suffer. Some effective and healthy weight loss measures include eating healthy, staying physically active, getting enough sleep and breaking up prolonged bouts of sitting with a few minutes of light to moderate physical activity.
Though no one deliberately sustains a joint injury, people do engage in activities that could increase their risk of becoming injured. For instance, engaging in repetitive motions, such as when riding a bike or typing at a computer, can cause repetitive stress injuries that eventually trigger arthritis. The same can be said for strenuous or physically demanding activities, such as lifting heavy objects or playing sports.
While you cannot avoid joint injuries entirely, you can take steps to protect them. For instance, if you know you plan to use a joint a lot, do special exercises for those joints before engaging in the activity. Before playing a sport or engaging in exercise, stretch and warmup ahead of time.
Occupations that involve a lot of bending, squatting, sitting, typing, heavy lifting and other repetitive and/or strenuous motions are often associated with arthritis — especially osteoarthritis. If you do work in a repetitive or physically demanding job, do what you can to make your workspace as safe and comfortable as possible. Clear your surroundings so as not to slip on miscellaneous objects, learn and respect your physical limitations, and invest in tools that are designed to make your job easier and more comfortable.
Certain microbial agents, such as viruses and bacteria, can infect the joints and trigger certain types of arthritis. Though you cannot always control what infections you contract, you can protect yourself by understanding the signs of infection and seeking treatment as soon as possible. If you notice any redness, warmth or swelling around a joint, seek medical care right away.
Among a myriad of other health issues, smoking can both increase a person’s risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis and exacerbate existing RA. Moreover, smoking makes it difficult for persons to stay physically active, which is a key component of an RA management plan.
The best thing you can do to reduce your risk of developing arthritis and/or exacerbating an existing condition is quit smoking. Though not easy, your efforts will pay off. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about smoking cessation resources.
Unfortunately, there are a few major risk factors for arthritis that you cannot control. Some non-modifiable risk factors that may increase your risk are as follows.
Women are more commonly afflicted by most types of arthritis than men. Though researchers are not quite sure why this is the case, they have found that women are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA) and fibromyalgia than their male counterparts. However, men are more likely to develop gout.
Age is one of the biggest and most uncontrollable risk factors of arthritis. Your risk of developing any type of arthritis drastically increases with age.
People born with certain genes are more likely to develop certain types of arthritis, including RA, ankylosing spondylitis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), than others. These genes, which are known as human leukocyte antigens, or class II genotypes, not only increase a person’s risk of arthritis but also, may make arthritis worse. Experts are unsure of why these genes play a role but only know that they do.
Given the fact that there are over 100 types of arthritis, pinpointing specific causes or risk factors is difficult. However, researchers have identified a few risk factors that tend to be linked to higher rates of arthritis than others. Some of the factors you can control, such as weight, occupation and injury, while others you cannot, such as age and genetics. Regardless of which risk factors you live with, by taking control of them and your health now, you can either reduce your risk of developing arthritis and/or minimize the impact it has on your life.