Arthritis Myths vs Facts: Things You Need To Know

Posted on: Dec 6, 2022 | | Written by:

Arthritis Myths vs Facts: Things You Need To Know

Published on December 06, 2022. EST READ TIME: 4 minutes

Arthritis is a serious condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness of joints, making it difficult to move and stay active. Although more common among the elderly, arthritis can affect babies, teenagers and adults as well. Timely diagnosis of the condition and its right treatment is key to help arthritis patients live a normal life.

Considering the increasing prevalence of arthritis and other conditions, it is important to keep a good health insurance policy handy. Health insurance takes care of your hospital bills and other associated expenses, so you can quit worrying about the bills and concentrate on the treatment instead. The top insurance companies in India offer different health plans, such as individual health insurance, family health insurance and more. Hence, you can compare different policies and buy the best health insurance for yourself and your loved ones.

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a condition characterised by pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints. It can affect one or more joints and make it difficult to move freely. The symptoms of the condition can be mild or severe and can worsen over time. Although arthritis cannot be reversed, making certain lifestyle changes can help slow its progression. Also, early diagnosis of the condition and the right treatment can make things easier for arthritis patients.

Arthritis – Common Types

There are more than 100 types of arthritis, each with different causes and treatment methods. However, the most common types of this condition are:

• Osteoarthritis

• Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Psoriatic Arthritis

• Gout

• Fibromyalgia

• Childhood Arthritis

• Juvenile Arthritis

• Spondyloarthropathies

• Lupus Erythematosus

Arthritis – Causes

• Old age

• Injury

• Obesity

• Muscle weakness

• Autoimmune conditions

• Family history of the condition

Arthritis – Symptoms

• Joint pain and stiffness

• Swelling

• Clicking or popping sound from joints while bending

• Bony growth in fingers

• Muscle weakness around the affected joints

• Morning stiffness

• Instability of the joint

• Weight loss

Arthritis: Myths and Facts

Some common myths associated with arthritis are:

Myth #1: Arthritis is limited to elderly people

Fact:

Arthritis is more common among elderly people, but it can affect children and adults as well. Certain types of arthritis, such as juvenile arthritis, are more common in babies and young kids aged below 16 years of age. Rheumatoid arthritis, a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the tissues and joints, usually begins in middle age.

Myth #2: Any kind of joint pain is arthritis

Fact:

Not all joint pain, stiffness and discomfort are signs of arthritis. The joints can pain due to other reasons, such as injuries, bursitis and tendinitis. Timely diagnosis by a healthcare professional can help understand the actual cause. In case the pain is persistent, seek medical advice without delay. Persistent joint pain and mobility issues can be signs of arthritis.

Myth #3: Exercise can make arthritis worse

Fact:

Exercise is not bad for arthritis patients. On the contrary, regular exercise can strengthen the joints and muscles, ease pain, boost energy levels and improve mobility. However, arthritis patients should talk to their doctors before beginning an exercise regimen. Studies have shown that arthritis patients who exercise regularly experience less pain and can sleep better at night. Exercise can also improve the overall health and fitness of an arthritis patient and keep their body weight in check.

Myth #4: You can’t do anything about arthritis

Fact:

Although the condition has no cure, it can be controlled with the help of medicines and lifestyle changes. Early diagnosis and the correct treatment can prevent the condition from progressing. And a good health insurance policy can deal with the associated cost as well. Arthritis patients must also make important changes to their lifestyle to manage the condition better. Eating a healthy diet, maintaining body weight, sleeping well at night and staying away from tobacco can help.

Myth #5: Joint pain increases in damp weather

Fact:

Arthritis pain and other symptoms are not affected by the weather. According to experts, the symptoms of the condition stay the same throughout the year. Arthritis patients may experience more pain and discomfort if they miss their medication or are not exercising their joints regularly.

Myth #6: Arthritis cannot be prevented

Fact:

This is a partial myth. One of the main risk factors of arthritis, i.e., advancing age, cannot be prevented. However, other risk factors, such as obesity and injuries, can be minimized or eliminated by keeping weight in check and wearing the right protective gear while playing a sport or working in industries.

Myth #7: Heat is better than ice for arthritis pain

Fact:

Both heat and ice are good for the joints when used the right way. The application of heat can soothe the joints and muscles, thereby reducing pain and stiffness. On the other hand, ice or cold compress can ease joint inflammation.

Myth #8: Citrus fruits can worsen the condition

Fact:

Citrus fruits are packed with vitamin C, antioxidants and other nutrients that offer many health benefits. Studies have shown that the right amount of vitamins can keep joints healthy and prevent inflammatory arthritis. Citrus fruits can also help those with osteoarthritis.

Myth #9: Nightshade vegetables can worsen arthritis symptoms

Fact:

Some people claim that nightshade vegetables, such as eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes and peppers, can worsen the symptoms of arthritis. However, there is no evidence that these vegetables increase pain, inflammation and other arthritis symptoms.

Myth #10: Supplements can cure arthritis

Fact:

Certain supplements, such as glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate, omega-3 fatty acid and curcumin, can help ease the symptoms of osteoarthritis but cannot cure the condition. A combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate can offer significant pain relief. These supplements have no side effects and are quite safe for arthritis patients.

Myth #11: An arthritis patient will always need a surgery

Fact:

In most cases, arthritis can be managed with physiotherapy, medicines and lifestyle modifications. Consuming a healthy diet and making certain lifestyle changes can help one manage arthritis. Surgery becomes important in very few cases, mostly when the joints are severely damaged due to late diagnosis. The best health insurance policies cover arthritis surgery and other related expenses. So, remember to renew your health plan annually and keep it handy for such medical emergencies.

Conclusion

These are some common myths and misconceptions about arthritis that have been floating around for long. In case you or a loved one is affected by the condition, ignore the myths and seek professional help whenever required. Since arthritis or any other condition can affect anyone at any time, make sure you take a good health insurance policy and stay covered. With different health plans available in the insurance market, such as individual health insurance, family floater and senior citizen health insurance, make sure you compare a few to find the best health insurance policy.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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