Manage osteoarthritis symptoms with simple lifestyle changes

A healthy lifestyle is important for a healthy body. A good and balanced diet can always help maintain a decent flow of all the important vitamins and minerals in our body.

A recent study has found that adopting a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet can also prove to be beneficial for the people with osteoarthritis, a deteriorating joint disease. A combination of these two things can help in reducing the pain and prevent further damage to the joints, bones and the muscles, reckons Dr Ashwani Maichand.

Osteoarthritis is one of the most disabling diseases in the world. Around 9.6 per cent of men and 18 per cent of women over 60 years of age are suffering from this disease. These patients feel severe pain and stiffness in their joints, and find it difficult to perform the daily activities. There is no cure for osteoarthritis, and is often managed by using pain medication or surgery in extreme cases.

However, the recent study has come as a ray of hope for patients with osteoarthritis, who can now manage their condition to a large extent. They can do it by consuming a gram of fish oil per day. Fish oil contains fatty acids that can reduce inflammation in joints and decrease the pain. Apart from this, a regular exercise can also benefit these patients, especially overweight people.

A weight loss or low-intensity physical activity can reduce pain and decrease cholesterol levels in the blood. By reducing the cholesterol levels, one can easily manage osteoarthritis. This proves that a combination of good diet and regular exercise is vital for controlling the symptoms of this joint disease.

According to Dr Ashwani Maichand, a person suffering from osteoarthritis must avoid drinking and smoking for better results. If a person does all the hard work, but keeps on smoking or drinking, he will never get the results he is looking for.