Did you know arthritis affects 1 in 5 people in Ireland, nearly one million of us, nationwide? This year, Operation Transformation is taking a special look at arthritis as leader Yvonne suffers from the condition.
RTÉ LifeStyle spoke to Arthritis Ireland's Senior Communications Manager Edel McCabe about the risks, difficulties, and treatment surrounding the condition.
Is it possible to avoid or reduce the threat of arthritis?
The fact is, there is no sure way to prevent arthritis. But you can help reduce your risk and delay the potential onset of certain types of arthritis. If you have healthy joints, do all you can to maintain mobility and function and avoid the pain and disability associated with arthritis.
Risk factors for arthritis include:
Age - The risk of developing most types of arthritis increases with age.
Gender - Most types of arthritis are more common in women; 60% in fact.
Genetics - Some types of arthritis run in families, so you may be more likely to develop arthritis if your parents or siblings have the disorder. Your genes can make you more susceptible to environmental factors that may trigger arthritis.
Overweight and obesity - Carrying excess pounds puts stress on joints, particularly your knees, hips, and spine. Overweight and obese people have a higher risk of developing arthritis.
Joint injuries - People who have injured a joint, perhaps while playing a sport, are more likely to eventually develop arthritis in that joint.
Infection - Many microbial agents can infect joints and potentially cause the development of various forms of arthritis.
Occupation - Certain occupations involving repetitive knee bending and squatting are associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.
What are the healthy ways to avoid the onset?
Eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight can make a big difference to your overall wellbeing and your arthritis.
As well as ensuring that your body has all the essential nutrients to function, eating healthily may help reduce the symptoms of arthritis both directly and by reducing the stress on your joints through weight loss.
Exercise can help you improve your health and fitness without hurting your joints. Did you know you're 'feeding' your joints when you're active? Cartilage depends on joint movement to absorb nutrients and remove waste.
Maintaining a healthy body weight is another important part of arthritis management. Being overweight raises your risk. Excess body weight can increase wear and tear on weight-bearing joints such as your knees, feet and hips.
This raises your chances of developing osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis. Being overweight can also increase your risk of other types of arthritis. Losing even a small amount of weight can reduce stress on the joints and help you avoid surgery.
A study from the UK, by Dr Stephen Messier, shows that for each pound of body weight lost, there is a 4-pound reduction in knee joint stress among overweight and obese people.
Researchers say the results indicate that even modest weight loss may significantly lighten the load on your joints.
What future challenges do we face if we do get arthritis?
Almost all people living with arthritis find that it affects their lives in some way. It can affect their everyday activities, their jobs their financial resources, or their relationships with family and friends.
There is much you can do to change, overcome, or cope with the problems it presents and there are numerous resources available to help you on your journey such as our “Living Well with Arthritis & related conditions” self-management courses, information booklets, local branches, helpline and much more.
What's your view on Operation Transformation's focus on this area? How are you involved?
Every day, people with arthritis are wrongly stereotyped. Featuring arthritis on Operation Transformation allows us to dispel the many myths that surround arthritis such as arthritis only affects the elderly; it's just a few aches and pains; it's part & parcel of getting older and stay in bed and away from exercise if you have arthritis.
It has also highlighted the importance a healthy diet and exercise can play in managing your disease.
We have been involved with Operation Transformation from the beginning of this series providing them with the information and personal stories they have needed to feature arthritis.
What tips can you give to help those living with arthritis?
- Take control by knowing your disease.
- Don’t delay, see your doctor.
- Work with your healthcare team and be an important part of it.
- Know about your treatment options.
- Find new ways to stay active.
- Learn techniques to help manage your pain.
- Acknowledge your feelings and seek support.
- Make food choices that count.
- Balance your life.
- Get in touch with organisations such as Arthritis Ireland.
Written by Arthritis Ireland's Senior Communications Manager Edel McCabe.
For more information log onto www.arthritisireland.ie or call our Helpline on 1890 252 846.
Operation Transformation airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8.30pm on RTÉ One.
