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Zimmer Biomet, a pioneer in making medical devices, is joining hands with Network18 to promote awareness about arthritis and bone health.

A right step towards educating people on arthritis

Arthritis is one of the most common medical conditions in India. More than 180 million people suffer from one of the numerous forms of the condition in the country. Arthritis is a general term that just refers to inflammation of a joint. The inflammation is often caused due to the gradual degeneration of the cartilage that covers and sheathes the joints. This results in irritation, pain, inflammation, stiffness and gradual loss of that joint.

With so many of us suffering from this debilitating disease, Zimmer Biomet, a pioneer in making medical devices, is joining hands with Network18 to promote awareness and talk about the concerns individuals regarding bone and joint health.

There are two main types of arthritis osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In the former, damage to the cartilaginous tissue can occur from wear and tear. Injury, infection, lifestyle choices, age and genetic predisposition are some of the risk factors for osteoarthritis. It is the most frequent joint disease in the country with a prevalence of 22 percent to 39 percent, according to data from the National Health Portal.

Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease that causes the bodys immune system to attack the lining of the joint capsule, called the synovial membrane, which then causes damage to the cartilage and bone. The risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis include family history, age, genetic predisposition and gender.

Arthritis can mean lowered workplace productivity in high-income countries due to timely intervention and access to healthcare. In countries like India, arthritis can mean loss of livelihood entirely due to the disease not being treated in time in most cases. Rheumatoid arthritis can especially be threatening to livelihoods as it is more common in younger individuals than osteoarthritis. The disease can also significantly impact the lifestyles of individuals who suffer from it, with arthritis quickly emerging to be the fourth most common cause of disability in India.

As a result of changing lifestyles, growing population and increasingly sedentary activity levels, the prevalence of all types of arthritis is also increasing steadily. Incidentally, suffering from arthritis further increases the chances of an individual suffering from other lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular issues due to plummeting activity levels.

Rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed using tests like erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), both of which show elevated levels when a patient suffers from the disease. Osteoarthritis is usually detected through imaging techniques like X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and arthroscopy along with complementary laboratory tests.

The most common medicinal intervention is the administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs not only help patients manage pain but also reduce other symptoms of the disease including inflammation and swelling.

Replacement arthroplasty, or joint replacement surgery, is also an electric surgical option that patients can opt for in case of severe damage to the joints, bone, or cartilage or in case of deformity of the joint. It is often considered a final option when other less invasive interventions are not working. Knee replacement surgeries alone in India hit the 2,00,000 mark in 2020, and the demand for joint replacement surgery is expected to grow in the country as advancements in science and surgery have made the procedure far more effective than before.

A joint replacement may be complete or partial and the life expectancy of the new artificial joints can be anywhere from a couple of years to decades depending on various other factors. Zimmet Biomets campaign with Network 18 will help readers educate themselves against the common disease and help explain options to existing patients. Through advancements in medical tech, holistic interventions have meant that arthritis patients are able to enjoy a better quality of life than ever before

First Published:Sep 30, 2022, 07:17 PM IST

Read this article:
Why Arthritis Is A Clear And Present Danger, And How We Can Fight It - CNBCTV18

This entry was posted on October 7, 2022 at 1:43 am and is filed under Arthritis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |