Describe two types of arthritis that can benefit from dietary changes and/or from physical activity.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The most common type of arthritis that disables older people is osteoarthritis, a painful deterioration of the cartilage in the joints. During movement, the ends of bones are normally protected from wear by cartilage and by small sacs of fluid that act as a lubricant. With age, cartilage begins to deteriorate, and the joints may become malformed and painful to move.
Obesity is common among adults with arthritis. Weight loss may relieve some of the pain for overweight persons with osteoarthritis, partly because the joints affected are often weight-bearing joints that are stressed and irritated by having to carry excess pounds. Interestingly, though, weight loss often relieves much of the pain of arthritis in the hands as well, even though they are not weight-bearing joints. Importantly, walking and other weight-bearing exercises do not worsen arthritis. In fact, low-impact aerobic activity and resistance strength training offer improvements in physical performance and pain relief, especially when accompanied by even modest weight loss.
Another type of arthritis known as rheumatoid arthritis has possible links to diet through the immune system. In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system mistakenly destroys bone and cartilage as if they were made of foreign tissue.
The omega-3 fatty acids commonly found in fatty fish reduce joint tenderness and improve mobility in some people with rheumatoid arthritis. The same diet recommended for heart health—a Mediterranean-type diet low in saturated fat from meats and milk products and high in vegetables, olive oil, and omega-3 fats from fish—helps prevent or reduce the inflammation in the joints that makes arthritis so painful.
Another possible link between nutrition and rheumatoid arthritis involves the oxidative damage to the membranes within joints that causes inflammation and swelling. The antioxidant vitamins C and E and the carotenoids defend against oxidation, and increased intakes of these nutrients may help prevent or relieve the pain of rheumatoid arthritis.
Another form of arthritis, which most commonly affects men, is gout, a condition characterized by deposits of uric acid crystals in the joints. Uric acid derives from the breakdown of purines, primarily from those made by the body but also from those found in foods. Recommendations to lower uric acid levels and the risk of gout include limiting alcohol and excessive amounts of meat, seafood, and sugar-sweetened beverages. For most people, however, such strategies are insufficient, and drugs are needed to control symptoms.
Treatment for arthritis—dietary or otherwise—may help relieve discomfort and improve mobility, but it does not cure the condition. Traditional medical intervention for arthritis includes medication and surgery. Alternative therapies to treat arthritis abound, but none have proved safe and effective in scientific studies. Popular supplements—glucosamine, chondroitin, or a combination—may relieve pain and improve mobility as well as over-the-counter pain relievers, but mixed reports from studies emphasize the need for additional research.