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Symptoms don’t always rear their painful heads initially, but once the disease settles in and continues to progress, chronic painful achy-ness becomes a daily annoyance. Unrelated diseases that affect mobility are especially susceptible to arthritic problems and although considered secondary can cause complications that are further disabling, not to mention pain elevating.
It’s interesting to know that although an even number of men and women are affected by arthritis, they experience it differently. Women for example often have more than one joint affected and their hands, knees, ankles and feet tend to be the source of discomfort. Men on the other hand display symptoms in their hips, wrist and spine. This could be related to work history as men in past generations were in vocations related to heavy lifting. Whereas, women in contrast may have worked in areas where hands and or standing was important.
According to current trends in diagnosis, as much as 85% of Canadians are expected to be afflicted with osteoarthritis. This could be avoided or at the very least reduced in number, if seniors would reduce their body weight.