Good medical morning! This is Watson and today we are going to talk about Arthritis, but before we get started can you answer this trivia question.
What celebrity has debilitating arthritis?
A) Pink
B) Jack Nicholson
C) Kathleen Turner
D) Cheech Marin
Stick around for the end of the video for that answer.
Arthritis is very common but is not well understood. Actually, “arthritis” is not a single disease; it is an informal way of referring to joint pain or joint disease. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis and related conditions. People of all ages, sexes and races can and do have arthritis, and it is the leading cause of disability in America. More than 50 million adults and 300,000 children have some type of arthritis. It is most common among women and occurs more frequently as people get older.
That’s what happens with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA attacks and damages joints. This leads to swelling, pain, inflammation, and possibly joint deformity.
Let’s look at some examples of arthritis.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvKOlhKhfMJ/
Show several examples
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. When the cartilage – the slick, cushioning surface on the ends of bones – wears away, bone rubs against bone, causing pain, swelling and stiffness. Over time, joints can lose strength and pain may become chronic. Risk factors include excess weight, family history, age and previous injury (an anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, tear, for example).
When the joint symptoms of osteoarthritis are mild or moderate, they can be managed by:
balancing activity with rest
using hot and cold therapies
regular physical activity
maintaining a healthy weight
strengthening the muscles around the joint for added support
using assistive devices
taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medicines
avoiding excessive repetitive movements
ON SCREEN – What Can Be Done About Arthritis?
There are many things that can be done to preserve joint function, mobility and quality of life. Learning about the disease and treatment options, making time for physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight are essential. Arthritis is a commonly misunderstood disease. The Arthritis Foundation is the only nonprofit organization dedicated to serving all people with arthritis. Its website, arthritis.org, has many resources for learning about arthritis, practical tips for daily living and more.
So who was our celebrity? If you answered Kathleen Turner, you were correct! Kathleen says that the only effective treatment in the 1990s, when she was diagnosed, was “massive doses of steroids” with “massive side effects,” she added. She recalled times when she wanted to pick up a bottle and couldn’t grip it, so people assumed she was drunk.
So there you go. We hope you learned about Arthritis in this video.
Thanks again for watching. Please subscribe for more medical videos!
