Grey hair. “Cheater” glasses. Arthritis.
Are these all just a part of getting old?
No, says rheumatologist Dr. Shirley Chow. Not arthritis.
“Osteoarthritis used to be thought of as a normal part of aging,” she says. “But now we know it’s caused by multiple factors, including genetics and local inflammation of joints. It is not a disease everyone gets just because they are aging.”
According to the Arthritis Society, osteoarthritis is when cartilage (the tough elastic material that covers and protects the ends of our bones) begins to wear away. Cartilage acts like a shock absorber and also lets the joint move smoothly. When cartilage wears down, it causes pain, stiffness, swelling and bone-on-bone movement in that joint.
But, there are things you can do when you are younger to help prevent you from developing osteoarthritis as you age, she says.
Here are Dr. Chow’s tips:
Avoid injury:
Be careful! Injured joints – from high-impact sports, falls, or other – are where arthritis may develop later.
Maintain a healthy weight:
Gaining weight not only puts pressure on your joints. Research shows that fat can affect how we feel pain – and add to that pain.
Butt out:
Smoking cigarettes is bad for joint health – not to mention your overall health! If you need help quitting, check out sunnybrook.ca/quitsmoking
Drink less:
Alcohol also harms joint health. Cut back on your intake and stick to the Canadian Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines.
Exercise more:
Add activity in your lifestyle now. Even 30 minutes a day can help. Include muscle-strengthening exercises such as core or quadracep strengthening because good muscles around joints will help in the long run!
Talk to your doctor if you’ve been inactive and to see if you have arthritis.
