Osteoarthritis Facts

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition in which tissue known as cartilage breaks down. When this tissue deteriorates, it leaves the bones to rub against each other, causing pain and stiffness. If you have osteoarthritis, you’ve probably heard something like this definition from your doctor. The disease may also be referred to as osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis.

In general terms, osteoarthritis is considered to be a chronic condition. It is important to make the distinction between chronic and acute conditions. Illnesses such as a cold or the flu are acute conditions, because they have a clear beginning and end as well as a specific cause, such as a virus. These illnesses can be diagnosed with special tests, and many of the most common ones can be treated with drugs or medical procedures. Chronic conditions like osteoarthritis, on the other hand, often last for several years or even a lifetime. All of the causes of osteoarthritis aren’t yet known, so there may be no single, simple treatment.

In fact, treatment for osteoarthritis may require a variety of medications and other measures, and these may change over time. Because this disease is long-lasting and can affect your day-to-day life for years, it is crucial that you take an active role in managing it. You can make a difference in how you feel by monitoring your symptoms, following your treatment plan, and dealing with the daily challenges the condition brings.

What Causes Osteoarthritis?

Like other chronic conditions, osteoarthritis has no single, specific cause. Instead, there are several factors involved in the disease, including heredity and lifestyle. It may take a combination of these factors to eventually result in osteoarthritis.

Heredity - Scientists believe that in osteoarthritis, as in many other diseases and conditions, heredity may play a role in the disease. Researchers are studying several genes that may be connected to osteoarthritis. The outcomes of these studies may help predict who is most likely to get the disease.

Obesity - You probably already know that being overweight puts you at risk for heart disease and certain types of cancer, but it can also have a profound effect on your joints. The reason is that your major joints, such as knees and hips, already bear the brunt of your body’s weight as you move through normal daily activities. Being overweight puts even more pressure on these joints.

Injury and overuse of joints - Sometimes repetitious movements or serious injuries to joints can lead to osteoarthritis years later. Some full-time athletes, for example, may injure the same joints over and over again, causing damage to the joints, tendons and ligaments that speeds up cartilage breakdown.

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