Joint Health 101

Joint Health 101

Posted by Dona on Sep 5th 2022

The more you age, the more important it will be to manage your joints. Joints are where two or more bones are joined together. Our knees, fingers, hips and shoulders all have joints and can be either rigid or moveable. Cartilage is the main element of joints that can affect overall discomfort since they are on the end of bones and prevents the joints from rubbing against each other.

Joints as your age

As we age, the volume of fluid between our joints tends to decrease, thereby leading to the deterioration of cartilage. In individuals engaging in increased physical activity, such as athletes, joint damage can begin at an earlier age. Healthy cartilage allows you to keep doing the activities you love, such as walking, climbing stairs, swimming, running, and even the simple joy of picking up your child or grandchild. Therefore, maintaining our joint health, especially cartilage is key.

Although we cannot avoid aging, we can implement some simple lifestyle changes to help ease the discomfort.

Physical activity. This is one of the most crucial things you can do to keep your joints healthy and moving. It is recommended to get at least thirty minutes of moderate to physical exercise per week to optimize joint health.

Healthy diet. Physical activity with a balanced diet goes hand in hand and this will help to not only maintain your joints but body weight as well. Being heavier can put a lot of strain and stress on the joints. Including foods into your diet that are anti-inflammatory and low on processed carbohydrates and sugars, will help you manage your joint heatlth and even help reduce your risk of developing joint diseases.

Get rest. Although becoming physically active is important, it is equally important to get rest. Implementing things like listening to your body when it feels stressed and getting good quality sleep will help your joints recover and maintain its health.

Stop smoking. Smoking is not only just bad for overall health but can worsen inflammation and can also increase risk of developing osteoporosis and bone fractures down the road.

Taking supplements. Increasing certain supplements in the body can help to keep joints healthy. Vitamin D, glucosamine and chondroitin are major nutrients that can help maintain healthy joints in the long run. Of course before starting any supplement’s, it is always a good idea to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Dona® may help you do just that. The Crystalline Glucosamine Sulfate in Dona® may act by supporting the muscles and cartilage around joints. It may also influence the body’s response to joint discomfort, thereby decreasing joint tenderness and soreness. Crystalline Glucosamine Sulfate may also be known to prevent an inflammatory reaction in the joint that can be caused by aging or damage, thereby keeping your cartilage healthy. Healthy cartilage is necessary to keep your joints flexible and free from any discomfort.

Joint Disorders

Aside from normal joint “wear and tear”, as you get older, some people could have more advanced joint issues that required medical attention and treatment. The most common joint disorder is called Arthritis.

Arthritis is a disease that causes inflammation (or swelling) and pain of the joints. About one in four adults report experiencing severe joint pain relating to arthritis and nearly half of those experience persistent pain. Many people believe that arthritis is just found in the elderly, however, this condition can occur at any age.

Arthritis can present itself in a variety of forms.

Osteoarthritis. When the cartilage wears and tears, allowing the bones to rub against each other thus causing inflammation and pain of the joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis. An autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the tissue of the joints which leads to pain, inflammation and loss of motion.

Gout. A type of arthritis that is caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals of the joint and can be painful.

Juvenile arthritis. This is referred to as arthritis found in children.

Lupus. Another serious autoimmune disorder that attacks both tissues and organs. In this case arthritis is actually one of the many symptoms that can be presented in a person with lupus.

Fibromyalgia. A disorder with widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues.

Psoriatic arthritis. An autoimmune disorder that is mainly characterized as a skin condition but depending on the severity, can also attack the joints.

If you believe your joint discomfort is more sever than just normal joint wear and tear, then you should speak to your healthcare professional. Over-the-counter supplements are NOT Intended To Diagnose, Treat, Cure or Prevent Any Disease.