“I feel like a 60-year-old!”
Many of us might have said this at a younger age, or might have heard other young people saying it.
So, what is ‘feeling like an old person’?
Is it aches and blurred vision? Or weakness and ailments?
Old age is a natural phenomenon that all living beings go through, and humans are designed to have it visibly noticed. When we talk about the visibility of ageing, it is not about just the external appearance. Our body has numerous organs, and all of these are entitled to undergo the ageing process. So what exactly is getting older?
In humans, ageing refers to the accumulation of changes in a person over time, including physical, psychological, and social changes. Talking about physical changes, we give a lot of importance and care to our heart, stomach, kidneys and all the other organs. As with age, physical strength is reduced and it becomes mandatory to use energy boosting supplements to sustain the functioning of the body. One thing that most of us miss out, or probably ignore is our bones. From a simple handshake that we have; to sitting, standing, running, and all the activities that help us live an active life, we owe all the gratitude to the bones in our body.
Bones are responsible for the shape and the basic mobility that we have. We often ignore any pain, thinking it could be a simple muscle pull. But more often than not, it could turn into a chronic problem if left undiagnosed and untreated. Bones become weak and brittle as we grow older than at a younger age, and it gets tougher to treat the problem at advanced stages.
So we have an entire spectrum of orthopaedic problems that must be diagnosed and addressed at the right time to avoid problems that affect when we get old. Let’s peep through the most common orthopaedic problems, most older adults face?
Arthritis: Arthritis is a disease that limits movement, causes extreme swelling and pain in the connective tissues. It is a chronic disease progresses slowly. Over a period the limited movement can also be restricted. It causes severe pain and stiffness if the patient tries to move the affected areas.
Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is referred to as a degenerative disorder of the joints. It mostly is noticed in the middle aged and older adults. The joint cartilage breaks down as physical growth progresses and usually occurs in the hands, knees, spine or hips. It is painful to the extent that people resort to pain relief medication, and is one of the most common orthopaedic cases seen in doctor’s offices.
Rheumatoid arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that causes severe inflammation of the joints. The severity of the inflammation completely restricts the functioning of the joints. Lumps develop over the small joints like the tarsals and metatarsals of the fingers and the toes. Rheumatoid arthritis not only limits the mobility, but it also hampers the appearance of the joints. Adult rheumatoid arthritis lasts a lifetime and gets worse over time. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when body’s immune system attacks its healthy cells and tissues. If not diagnosed and addressed in time, this chronic disorder can also spread to the heart and lungs.
Lower back pain: Lower back pain is a condition that affects the lumbar region of the back bone causing persistent and severe pain. Mobility is restricted and normal functioning of the back bone is disturbed. Lower back pain is also an outcome of osteoporosis, a bone degenerative disorder that makes the bones brittle.
Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is a type of arthritic disease that weakens the bones. The name ‘osteoporosis’ is derived from the Latin word for “porous bones.” A bone has small pores which are filled with bone marrow, nerves, and blood vessels that carry nutrients from and to the bones. Osteoporosis increases the size of these pores resulting in loss of strength and density. Osteoporosis usually affects older adults. People with this bone condition are at a high risk of experiencing fractures even with routine activities like standing or walking. The bones which are commonly affected are the wrists, spine, hips, and the ribs.
Preventing osteoporosis
Although there are many natural factors like ageing, and having a genetic history of osteoporosis which is not in our control, there are some factors that do fall under our control. They are:
- Plenty of calcium and vitamin D intake
- Weight-training, and muscle building workout
- Avoid smoking
Lifestyle changes play a crucial role in how our health is. It is important to know that bones are the most important part of the human body; as without the support of bones, no organs can be placed in the body. And humans wouldn’t have had any shape without bones.
So let’s grow ‘gracefully old’ with healthy bones.
About the hospital: Sai Sanjeevini Multi Speciality Hospitals A Unit Of Singapanga Healthcare Pvt. Ltd Has Been Providing Health Services To The People In Need For The Last 14 Years. This Health Care Organisation Combines Practical, Proven Research, Cutting Edge Procedures And State-of-the-art Treatment To Produce Excellent Medical And Lifestyle Outcome For Our Patients. We also have a wide array of specialties including Pulmonology, Neurology, Gynecology and are pioneers among all Orthopedic Hospital in Hyderabad.
About the doctor: Dr.S.Anjaiah is a reputed Orthopedic doctor in Hyderabad with an experience of 22 years in this field. Dr.S.Anjaiah practices at Sai Sanjeevini Hospitals in Kothapet, Hyderabad. He completed MBBS from Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad in 1991 and MS – Orthopaedics from Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad in 1994. All his patients trust him with their bones and also their lives. So Book your Appointment now.