People who have older relatives suffering with arthritis will be all too aware that the condition often runs in families and genetics is the only definite cause that doctors can give. However, there are several other factors that medical professionals believe could contribute to arthritis and as a result avoiding those things could reduce our chances of developing it.

The majority of people who suffer from arthritis are over the age of 50 and this is because as we age our cartilage becomes more brittle and susceptible to damage. With this in mind we could say that age is one of the things that causes arthritis, just as weight plays a big part in the health of joints too. Those who are overweight are putting more pressure on their joints and causing them damage. As they age the cartilage becomes brittle and less able to repair itself and so arthritis occurs. Another definite cause of arthritis is trauma to the joints. This might happen over time as a result of repetitive and high levels sports, or it may have happened as a result of one incident, perhaps falling off a horse or being in a car accident. Sometimes broken bones, for instance, are forced outwards and into the cartilage, which then struggles to heal and will cause arthritis later in life.

What causes arthritis is also often dependent upon what kind of arthritis a person suffers from. For instance, someone with gout (a build up on uric acid in the joints, commonly the big toe causing arthritis) is prone to excess build up of uric acid, which is a by product of the break down of purines, attained via food. Therefore this person's specific type of arthritis (gout) could be said to be caused by their diet (which is high in purines). Rheumatoid arthritis is a form of arthritis which is triggered by an auto immune response. Therefore irregularities in the immune system which cause this over protective reaction can be deemed a cause of the condition. There are around 200 different types of arthritis, each with different causes, but these are separated into three categories for easy diagnosis and treatment: connective tissue diseases, inflammatory and non inflammatory arthritis.

There is no way for us to avoid old age or change our genetics, but we do have control over our weight and whether we repeat the same actions over and over again every day. Try to choose a job with varying activities or if you do have a repetitive job make sure that you take regular breaks. Also, have a healthy diet high in omega 3, 6 and 9 oils to keep joints healthy and try to not get overweight or stay overweight for too long. For those with arthritis running in their family this advice is particularly relevant. While it is unfortunate that you are susceptible to developing the condition, it is fortunate that modern science allows you to catch it early and keep joints healthy for longer.

Stan Tian

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