Why Arthritis Is More Common In Women Than Men

Why Arthritis Is More Common In Women Than Men

Arthritis is characterized by inflammation or breakdown of one or more of your joints, causing pain and stiffness.
Joints are supported by soft tissues that prevent your bones from rubbing against each other.
Articular cartilage is a connective tissue that plays a key role in helping your joints move smoothly without friction or pain.
Some joints also have a synovial membrane that lubricates the joints. Joints, such as your knees are supported by tendons connecting muscles to bones and ligaments which connect bones to other bones.

Most commonly affected joints:

• Feet
• Hands
• Hips
• Knees
• Lower back

Causes of arthritis

The exact cause is unknown, but several things are thought to increase the risk of developing the condition.

• If you are over 50
• If you are female
• Have nutritional deficiency, such as omega-3 fatty acids, or vitamin C and E
• Previous joint injury due to accidents or orthopedic operations
• Obesity can make the condition worse in the knees, hips and spine
• Abnormal joint or limb development
• Inherited factors
• Occupations that involve repeated stress on a particular joint
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Gout
• Lyme disease
• Diabetes

Symptoms of arthritis

Depending on the type of arthritis, symptoms felt may be mild to severe and they might come and go or remain constant.

Common symptoms include:

• Pain
• Redness
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Warmth
  Source
  my.clevelandclinic.org – arthritis

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions the end of bones in the joints, gradually degenerates or wears away and usually worsens over time.
Cartilage which is an important structural component of the body is a resilient and smooth elastic tissue that permits nearly frictionless joint motion.
The loss of cartilage cushion associated with osteoarthritis causes friction between the bones.
The bones of the joints rub more easily against one another with less of the cartilage absorbing the impact.

Menopause and osteoarthritis

Estrogen may increase the chance of developing osteoarthritis (OA).
OA is most commonly experienced by postmenopausal women, which has led researchers to explore the possible relationship between OA and menopause.
Research has found evidence to support a connection between estrogen and joint health.
However, the researchers were unable to determine the exact role estrogen plays in OA.

Source
ncbi.nlm.nlm.gov – epidemiology of OA
ncbi.nlm.nlm.gov – osteoarthritis associated with estrogen deficiency

Most commonly affected joints

• Ends of the fingers
• Knee
• Hips
• Lower back
• Neck
• Base of the thumb

OA can disrupt the quality of life, affecting both work and normal daily activities.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis

• Pain that increases with prolonged activity but gets a bit better with rest
• Stiffness
• Tenderness and swelling
• Bone spurs that form around your joints
• Cracking sensation when the joint is in use
• Decreased range of motion

Treatment of osteoarthritis

No cure exists for osteoarthritis, but treatment options may help to effectively manage symptoms.
Your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce inflammation, such as Voltaren.
In some situations, a cortisone injection may also help reduce the pain.
Sometimes surgery, such as arthroscopy or joint replacement, is recommended but is usually only reserved for severe cases.

 

Lifestyle changes to help against osteoarthritis

You can manage the symptoms of OA by adopting the following lifestyle changes:

• Low-impact exercises such as swimming, yoga, and biking
• Losing weight
• Supplement with omega-3 fatty acids
• Taking vitamins C, E or D
• Eating calcium-rich foods or taking a supplement
• Avoiding repetitive tasks that overwork your joints
• If you smoke, quit smoking
• Using heat and cold pack
• Undergoing physical therapy
• Using anti-inflammatory medications
• Braces or using assisting devices

Sources
cdc.gov – osteoarthritis basics
mayoclinic.org – osteoarthritis symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis an autoimmune disorder is the second most common type of arthritis and involves the body attacking itself by mistake.
The immune system attacks joint and organ tissues, most commonly the wrists, hands, knees, ankles, and feet, and typically occurs at the same joint on both sides of the body.
It can also affect other organs such as:

• The eyes
• Skin
• Heart
• Lungs
• Kidneys
• Nervous system
• Digestive tract

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

• Pain in the joints, back, or muscles
• Joint stiffness, swelling, tenderness or weakness
• Fatigue, anemia or malaise of the body
• Redness of lumps of the skin
• Swelling of bump on the finger
• Dry mouth
• Sensation of pins and needles
• Physical deformity

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Unfortunately, up until now, there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis.
However, physiotherapy and medication can help slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis.
Sources
mayoclinic.org – rheumatoid arthritis symptoms
cdc.gov – rheumatoid arthritis