Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis, a chronic joint condition which occurs due to a damaged or broken cartilage. Cartilage is a soft bony tissue which prevents bone joints from damage. Its breakage leads to rubbing of bones at joints, causing inflammation, steadiness and pain. 

Mostly, osteoarthritis occurs in older people, but it can also occur in adults. It is a diseases that causes joint degeneration, also known as wear and tear arthritis. 

It impacts mainly on joints of hands, feet, spine, hips and knees. In its early stage, when it is difficult to diagnose a cause, is called primary osteoarthritis. When it is diagnosed with a known cause it is called secondary osteoarthritis. 

The main symptoms to identify the condition are;

• Joint Pain
• Discomfort and steadiness around hands and fingers movements
• Rigidity in joints
• Inflammation of joints 

Osteoarthritis is different from rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune diseases, causes inflammation due to loss of joint lubrication. Osteoarthritis is not an autoimmune diseases, result of ageing, caused by broken cartilage around the joints. 

Besides ageing, the other causes for osteoarthritis are:

• Cartilage damage
• Joint dislocation
• Ligament damage due to injury 

Depending on the severity of the condition, treatment options vary. Physical activity and yoga are useful options for improving joint flexibly. Hot and cold therapy treatment, proper sleep, weight loss, are other recommended treatment options. Some medications such are “analgesics (acetaminophen), NSAIDs (Advil), corticosteroids” are given for pain relief. But, changing lifestyle, eating proper diet and vitamins, and regular physical activities are the best options to reduce osteoarthritis risks.

Additional Reasons That Can Cause Osteoarthritis

Occupation

Besides ageing, cartilage damage and joint dislocation, what a person does for his or her living can be a potent cause that could lead to osteoarthritis. In medical terms, osteoarthritis is sometimes referred to as a wear and tear disease. Depending upon the kind of job, a strain in joints can cause the cartilage to break and it can lead to a permanent wear and tear. This can happen due to physical labour, kneeling too much or climbing too many stairs on regular basis.

Weight Gain

A person is at risk for developing the condition increases if there is a sudden weight gain. Excess body weight will put an additional and unexpected stress on the joints such as knees, hips and back causing them to flare up leading to this health disorder.

Underlying Health Issues

Medical conditions that may involve bleeding near any joint can cause osteoarthritis symptoms to show up or the current symptoms to aggravate. People who have several types of bleeding disorders such as haemophilia or avascular necrosis may also experience some symptoms of osteoarthritis.