Arthritis is the breakdown of cartilage in the joints. This is followed by chronic inflammation of the joint lining. Typically this disease affects the hands, feet, spine, hips, and knees and results in limited movement of the affected joint.

Arthritis is commonly associated with aging though there are factors which result in people being afflicted sooner rather than later. These factors include obesity, genetic factors, injury of the joint, continued stress due to physical activity and neuromuscular disorders such as diabetes.

Treatment

There is not treatment to stop or repair cartilage loss once it has been damaged, but there are methods to treat the painful symptoms associated with the onset of Arthritis. These may include dietary supplements, alternative treatments, mechanical aids, weight reduction, exercise and physical therapy or applying heat or ice to the affected area.

Prevention

There are things you can do to guard against the onset of osteoarthritis. These preventative measures include:

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Doing regular, gentle physical activities such as walking, stretching, swimming or yoga on a consistent basis
• Avoiding joint injury or repetitive motions, especially as you approach and exceed 40 years of age
• Take your vitamins! Taking vitamins to make sure you are receiving optimum levels of joint health vitamins and proteins such as magnesium, potassium, glucosamine and chondroitin.