Jamar Tejada cites possible origins of joint pain, treatment strategies, essential nutrients and anti-inflammatory active ingredients for painful “joints”
Joint pain, or commonly “joint pain”, is normally not a sign of more serious problems and can also be treated at home by simply applying warm compresses to the area.
I remember well my great-grandfather, who put a compress with hot water on her to relieve the pain in the “joints” of her fingers. And this is perfectly logical, but far from being the solution for those who really suffer from the problem.
Sometimes it’s not just joint pain. These pains could be signs of more serious problems, such as arthritis or tendonitis. According to the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology, approximately 15 million Brazilians are affected by rheumatic diseases, which are, in most cases, the main cause of joint pain. These pains usually appear between the ages of 35 and 40.
So, whenever the pain is very intense or takes more than a month to disappear, or even causes some kind of deformity, it is very important to consult a doctor to diagnose the problem and start the correct treatment.
What are joints?
The famous “joints”, or joints, are important parts of our body that help us make movements with the bones, joining one bone to another. They also cause one bone to slide over another as it moves, preventing friction that could cause wear. There are three different types of joints: fibrous, cartilaginous and synovial:
- Fibrous: they are fixed, like those present in the skull, teeth and jaw, and have almost no movement;
- Cartilaginous: they are made of cartilage and can be mobile or immobile, both with limited movement and are generally present in places with little movement, such as the vertebrae;
- synovial: They are fully mobile and are present in regions such as the shoulders, elbows, knees and hips.
What are the causes of pain?
Some conditions such as advanced age, overweight, poor diet, lack of exercise or related diseases can affect the functioning of the joints. Pain can be caused by osteoarticular pathologies, but also by repetitive movements, inflammation or even stress. I will talk about each of the causes.
Fatigue
Although stress is not a direct cause of joint pain, its effects cause an increase in the level of certain hormones in the body, such as cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrine. These are released in this acceleration process and can unbalance the entire body, further stimulating anxiety and concentration problems. They also reduce the size of blood vessels and, in the long term, increase the risk of hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias.
In a study conducted by the University of Geriatrics of Montreal, it was found that those who have high levels of cortisol in the body are more affected by chronic pain.
Bruxism, also caused by stress, is a disorder characterized by teeth grinding and which can affect the temporomandibular joint, generating excessive pain in the region.
Furthermore, stress lowers our immune defenses and makes it difficult to fight diseases, making us more vulnerable to them, as in the case of chronic diseases that affect the joints.
Joint hypermobility
There are also people who have joints with large movements, that is, they are more flexible than others, which is why they are able to perform movements such as touching the floor with the palms of their hands without bending their knees. This happens due to the lack of collagen between the joint connections, which can cause dislocations more frequently and, consequently, generate recurring joint pain.
Inflammation
Joint inflammation can occur due to excessive wear, fractures, or bruises. It is a condition that generally precedes the diagnosis of osteoarticular diseases, such as arthritis. Therefore, in these cases, the sooner treatment can be started, the better.
Repetition movements
Performing the same movement repeatedly can weaken your joints and cause pain. At higher levels, repetitive movements can trigger bone fractures and the onset of diseases, such as tendinitis, characterized by inflammation or irritation of the tendons.
Joint pain and covid-19
Scientific evidence has highlighted that Covid-19 is an infection that triggers an inflammatory process in the body and that can affect regions that already have a predisposition to inflammation, such as joints, and can generate pain and discomfort, even after disinfection .
Osteoarticular diseases
There are several health conditions that can affect bones and joints, causing pain and discomfort. Find out which are the most common, their main symptoms and how to treat them:
Osteoarthritis (arthrosis)
Osteoarthritis is a major cause of chronic pain associated with aging. It is a type of arthritis that causes wear of the cartilage surrounding the joints and can also affect the bones. Osteoarthritis can be hereditary. It generally appears after the age of 40 without known causes, due to advanced age, injuries or unhealthy habits.
Rheumatoid arthritis
It is an autoimmune condition/disease characterized by inflammation of the joints. Unlike osteoarthritis, arthritis can appear from the age of 30 and, in more severe cases, can affect other tissues of the body, in addition to the joints.
Symptoms of arthritis and osteoarthritis
Both may present similar symptoms, such as:
- Frequent joint pain;
- Difficulty walking;
- Joint deformities (fingers appear to have calluses);
- Limitation of joint movement.
- Initially, the similarity between symptoms is more frequent and, therefore, medical evaluation is necessary for adequate diagnosis and monitoring.
Treatment strategies
Most osteoarticular diseases cannot be cured once joint damage has already occurred, but proper treatment can help you live a quality life. Adopting a healthy diet and carrying out frequent and specific physical activities to strengthen bones and joints, as well as complementary therapies, such as physiotherapy, ozone therapy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, yoga and phytotherapy, are very good. .
Check out the top tips below:
Healthy habits
The diet for any type of arthritis and osteoarthritis should be rich in foods that have anti-inflammatory properties, such as fish, nuts and foods rich in vitamin C. Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that excess weight can lead to overload of certain joints and, therefore, it is important to control weight through a healthy diet so that there is not only an improvement in symptoms, but also prevention of progression. of the disease.
Anti-inflammatory foods
– Foods rich in omega 3 with anti-inflammatory properties, such as tuna, sardines, trout, tilapia, herring, anchovies, cod, chia seeds and flax seeds, cashews, Brazil nuts, almonds and walnuts;
– Garlic and onionsince they contain a sulfur compound called allicin, which guarantees anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties;
– Citrus fruitslike orange, pineapple and acerola, due to the presence of vitamin C, they help the production of collagen;
– Foods rich in fiberlike vegetables, fruit and whole grains, they help reduce inflammation and maintain the health of the intestinal microbiota;
– Red fruitssuch as pomegranate, watermelon, cherry, raspberry, strawberries and guava, contain anthocyanins, which are antioxidant compounds with anti-inflammatory properties;
– Foods rich in seleniumEggs, French bread and Brazil nuts are also important, as selenium is a mineral with high antioxidant and immunomodulatory power, which helps strengthen the immune system.
– Vitamin D. There are studies that indicate that both arthritis and osteoarthritis are more serious when the person has low levels of vitamin D. It is also important that the person exposes themselves frequently to the sun and also includes foods rich in this vitamin in their daily diet, such as such as fortified milk, eggs and oily fish.
Exercises that promote joint health
Walk: Walking an average of 30 minutes a day can promote bone density, also improving the symptoms of osteoarticular diseases.
Mobility training: As the name suggests, this type of practice serves to promote greater mobility and autonomy, as well as strengthening the body’s muscles with exercises that generally last around 5 minutes and can be performed at home, without the need for specific equipment and with the help of your body weight.
Water aerobics: Since they are performed in water, aquagym exercises have a low impact, facilitate movements and discreetly promote the strengthening of bones and muscles.
Essential nutrients and anti-inflammatory active ingredients
Some nutrients are essential for the maintenance of bones and joints and can be ingested through food or handled in a pharmacy. Are they:
Vitamin D: Provides benefits for bone density, being essential for the prevention and treatment of diseases that affect bones and joints;
Vitamin K: Essential for maintaining healthy bones. It also helps the body’s absorption and utilization of calcium, providing better targeting to the entire structure;
C vitamin: It helps in the formation of collagen in the body, being essential for joint health;
Collagen type I: The bone structure is composed of up to 65% collagen type I fibers, which is a critical component for providing strong bones and preserving joint cartilage;
Collagen type II: Cartilage is the connective tissue present in joints and contains up to 60% collagen in its composition, therefore non-denatured and non-hydrolysed type II collagen is essential for the preservation of cartilage, contributing to the benefit of the joints;
Curcumin: This active ingredient derived from turmeric has anti-inflammatory power as its main action and works to reduce pain and infections. More information on turmeric by clicking here.
Hyaluronic acid: Helps lubricate joints and absorb shock. This active ingredient is a protein that has anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous actions;
Boswellia dry extract: Extracted from the Boswellia serrata tree, it has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as playing an important role in improving the motor function of the joints;
Always consult your doctor, nutritionist and/or pharmacist to find out the most suitable advice for your case and get moving! After all, anything that sits still for a long time rusts.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
