Healthy Aging Research Paper

Arthritis occurs when the body incorrectly identifies its own tissue as foreign matter and attacks it. Arthritis includes a set of more than eighty autoimmune diseases. Arthritis attacks connective tissues and joints. It causes stiffness, pain, inflammation, and swelling of the joints. Some kinds are crippling, but rarely leads to death. There are many different

1. Exercise can help improve arthritis for seniors who suffer from it. Range-of-motion, strength and endurance exercises can all relieve stiffness, improve flexibility and lessen pain.

Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, is a form of arthritis characterized by the breakdown of cartilage within joints. Cartilage serves to provide cushion at the ends of bones, and when the cushion is not sufficient, as in osteoarthritis, the bones rub together. As a result, osteoarthritis sufferers are constantly plagued by stiff, swollen, and inflamed joints (http://www.arthritis.org/answers/diseasecenter/oa.asp). It is a relatively common condition, with an estimated 20 million American sufferers, most of whom are elderly (http://webmd.lycos.com/content/article/1668.50297). Traditional treatments include Tylenol, aspirin, or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

While aging does cause some minor discomforts and slowdowns in the body's systems, it should not lead to an inability to function. The primary causes for pain and disease are not actually aging but rather a sedentary lifestyle. Modern life gives people little opportunity to stop, stretch and move their bodies as the body was designed to move. This leads to the body's muscles atrophying.

The result of this pain in the joints and in the muscles is often inflammation. The symptoms of this condition closely resemble those of viral flu and sometimes those of arthritis.

Osteoarthritis knee is the common form of arthritis; it causes degeneration of knee joints. It develops when cartilage, the lining of joints that allows smooth movement between opposing bones, starts to break down, especially in the elderly. Swelling and inflammation in the affected knee joint are a major cause of pain and disability.

For some time, demographers have expressed concern that the first part of the 21st century would face a number of potential challenges due to an aging population. A number of methods to reduce the effects of time are thought to be new and innovative, when often; it is many tried and true methods that are the most efficacious. This is as important for medical specialists, geriatric caregivers, and even family caregivers those in the trenches who are faced with the daunting and daily tasks of helping to care for our aged ("Family Caregivers, 2010). They know that using physical activity to bolster biological reactions is one of these methods that work and now science has proven that certain chemicals are released when one is active, amused or happy that indeed, aid in learning, comprehension, and anti-aging (Harlin 2008). In the very core of human neurobiology, in fact, moving muscles from the arms, hands, and legs, even to the mouth (smiles) and diaphragm produces proteins that interact with neurochemicals to form some fantastic ways to enhance biological processes (Ratey 2008, 5).

cartilage. The pain and stiffness are worse in the mornings and after rest, easing after movement.

Ankylosing Spondylitis is another chronic arthritis commonly affecting the lower spine and sacra-iliac joints but can affect upper spine and other joints. Eventually vertebrae fuse together including the sacrum and pelvis, causing pain and stiffness. There is no cure but physical therapies and medications help. It usually develops in 20s to 30s, more in men. There can be a family

Osteoarthritis is associated with the joints and doesn't affect any other part of the body, joint pain will occur due to repetitive use and will therefore be more relevant later in the day after most of the daily motions have been done. Joints subjected to osteoarthritis can expect to swell, be warm, and creak. Contrary to what one might expect, osteoarthritis can also occur after lengthy periods of inactivity as well, in severe cases the complete loss of cartilage will cause the bones around the joint to touch and grind together causing severe pain even at rest or with very little motion. Of coarse no symptoms are ever the same, in one person the same level of joint destruction may cause no pain whatsoever while in the next person the pain may be too much for them to handle without some form of medical care, these

Although movement hurts, it’s one of the best ways to relieve arthritic pain and stiffness. Elders often need help to get up from a chair and support when walking. They often aren’t able to care for themselves adequately as the disease progresses.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that affects about 1.3 million people in America. It causes pain and swelling around the joints. Other rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include fatigue, tenderness and weakness in the joints. There are a number of rheumatoid arthritis treatments available. The goal of treatment is to control the condition and improve a patient's quality of life.

You should be mindful of how your bones and joints feel as you age, so you can determine when it may be time to seek treatment. For example, if you’re suffering from arthritis, you may experience some of the following symptoms in your joints:

The most common symptom of arthritis is joint pain. However, joint pain may result from other illnesses, and this means that people experiencing joint pain have to consult a medical professional for differential diagnosis. Joint stiffness and swelling are also common in people with the disease. The most common symptom reported is a constant pain that occurs around a given joint. Moreover, other types of arthritis such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis that can also affect other body organs and cause other symptoms

Pain of more severe Osteoarthritis and stiffness may make it difficult to walk climb stairs, sleep or perform other activities.