Ask JJ: Osteoarthritis

Dear JJ: I'm a 67-year-old woman who recently got diagnosed with osteoarthritis. My doctor warned me as an older woman, I'm more susceptible to this problem along with fractures and other problems it presents. I don't want to go on prescription drugs, and I know you're big on natural remedies. Can you help me out here? Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease, the most common form of arthritis, and sometimes called the "wear and tear" arthritis. A little background: Bones intersect to form a joint. Those bones need a buffer to prevent painful friction. Cartilage--a tough, flexible connective tissue that protects your bones from rubbing together--becomes that buffer. OA occurs when cartilage wears down, exposing bone to bone and resulting in joint pain, stiffness, tenderness, inflammation, and other issues that range from mild discomfort to debilitating suffering. Your body has an amazing ability to repair and recover. If you've ever pulled a muscle or broken a bone, you know the process your body goes through to heal. Unfortunately, unlike other tissue, cartilage doesn't get a steady supply of blood vessel. That's one reason it diminishes with age and doesn't regenerate as quickly. As you've learned, women, particularly postmenopausal women, become more vulnerable to OA than men. In fact, studies show OA (along with osteoporosis) affects about 60 percent of postmenopausal women. You can't change your gender, genes, or age, but building healthy cartilage ...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news