Arthritis Affecting About 14 Mln Pakistanis: Dr Niaz Asim

Arthritis is a disorder that causes pain, stiffness and swelling in or around joints and is a chronic disorder affecting about 14 million Pakistanis and nearly 50 percent of people 65 years old.

HYDERABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jun, 2018 ) :Arthritis is a disorder that causes pain, stiffness and swelling in or around joints and is a chronic disorder affecting about 14 million Pakistanis and nearly 50 percent of people 65 years old.

Talking to APP here on Thursday, consultant Orthopedics Surgeon trauma Surgery and Joint Replacement Specialist Dr Niaz Asim said that as a leading cause of disability, arthritic conditions limit the activity of more than seven million people in the United States and are second only to heart disease as a cause of work disability.

About the different types of the Arthritis he said two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

These are separate diseases that affect people in different ways.

About the Osteoarthritis Dr Niaz Asim said that this is the most common type of Arthritis, affecting many people. He informed that it is also called "degenerative joint disease" and most often involves the weight-bearing joints.

He said that the disorder results from mechanical joint damage whether from long-term previous injury and Osteoarthritis usually is diagnosed in people older than 40. Nearly everyone over 70 has osteoarthritis in at least one joint, but not everyone develops symptoms, he added.

Dr Niaz Asim said that Osteoarthritis is the most common form, and is categorized as an "old age" disease because it arises in people past middle age and this type of arthritis describes the degeneration of the cartilage at the joints.

About the lubrication of the fluids of the joints Dr Asim said that in RA, the fluid which lubricates the joint and allows for flexibility becomes inflamed and also inflammatory cells release enzymes which, if the process continues over years, can gradually digest the cartilage and bone of the joints.

Dr Niaz Asim said that however some medical doctors, not notably eminent specialists, and naturopathic doctors claim that arthritis is a metabolic disorder caused by stress but through years or unhealthy living poor environment, faulty nutrition, over-eating, emotional and physical stresses, sedentary lifestyle and lack of positive outlook contribute to metabolic imbalance and the breakdown of basic bodily functions including digestion, assimilation, elimination, glandular secretion and circulation.

Dr Niaz Asim further said that a growing number of physicians and other specialists in the healing arts believe that the best way to cure disease is to create a physical environment in the body which supports its own natural healing function.

He said that it follows that diet and nutrition are real keys to help those suffering from arthritis. However, this natural approach is only as effective as the body's own restorative powers.

Dr Niaz Asim said diet has been strongly implicated in many forms of arthritis and eliminating allergenic foods has been proven beneficial for some rheumatoid arthritis sufferers and virtually any food can aggravate RA.

He said that a person could have complete absence of joint pain and have much improved mobility from laser therapy treatments, even though x-rays still show severe degeneration.

Dr Niaz Asim suggested that maintaining a normal weight or losing 10 Pounds if patients overweight help reduce the risk of osteoarthritis and helps reduce joint stress if patient already have arthritis.

He said that arthritis is chronic and there is no known cure. The main aim is maintenance, reducing inflammation and easing pain, added.

Dr Niaz further said that doctor could not make the pain go away completely but can help with ways to reduce joint pain. Ask for help with pain management if patient feel treatment is not addressing their pain well.