Osteoarthritis Causes and Risk Factors
Primary generalized osteoarthritis – or degenerative arthritis -- affects women more than men, often occurring shortly after menopause. Most people with primary osteoarthritis have other family members who are affected by the same problem, and usually have swelling and or pain of the finger joints, base of the thumbs, and knees or hips.
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- Q What other diseases are commonly associated with osteoarthritis?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyPeople with osteoarthritis (OA) often also have diabetes or heart disease. People with type 2 diabetes are likely to also have OA. In fact, 52% of adults with diabetes also have OA. Among all adults, the prevalence of OA is only about 27%, which... Full Answer
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- Q How can having excess iron in my blood cause osteoarthritis?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyExcess iron in your blood can cause a number of serious health problems, including osteoporosis (thin, brittle bones that break easily), osteopenia (bone thinning) and osteoarthritis (OA). If you already have OA, excess iron in the blood can make... Full Answer
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- Q What are risk factors for osteoarthritis?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyOsteoarthritis (OA) has a number of risk factors including: Age: Just getting older increases you risk of OA. Weight: Being overweight or obese sharply increases your risk of OA. Gender: Women get OA more than men, especially after menopause. Joint... Full Answer
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- Q What does diet have to do with osteoarthritis?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyA bad diet that makes you overweight or obese puts you at much greater risk of getting osteoarthritis (OA). An obese woman has four times the risk of knee OA than a non-obese woman. If you already have OA, losing weight through a healthy diet can... Full Answer
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- Q How is my family history related to osteoarthritis?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyYour family history counts when it come to osteoarthritis (OA). We still don't know exactly what causes OA, but we do know you can inherit a general tendency toward it. Osteoarthritis in the hands, especially in the finger joints, seems to have a... Full Answer
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- Q Why does osteoarthritis cause disability?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyOsteoarthritis (OA) can cause severe pain and limit joint motions, sometimes to the point where it becomes disabling. That usually means that you can no longer perform the normal activities of daily living, such as climbing up a flight of stairs,... Full Answer
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- Q Is osteoarthritis more prevalent in black people?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyOsteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis among African-Americans, but it isn't any more prevalent among them than it is among all other Americans. African-Americans are more likely than the overall population to get two other... Full Answer
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- Q How does being overweight or obese cause osteoarthritis?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyBeing overweight or obese puts extra stress on your joints, especially those in your hips and knees, making it a major risk factor for developing osteoarthritis (OA). For every pound you're overweight, you're adding four pounds of pressure on... Full Answer
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- Q What are environmental causes of osteoarthritis?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyWhen doctors talk about environmental causes of a disease, they mean any causes that aren't genetic. Osteoarthritis (OA) has a lot of possible environmental causes, including joint injury, being overweight or obese, being physically inactive and... Full Answer
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- Q What causes osteoarthritis of the knee?
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Damage to the cartilage can be the result of a previous injury, or the result of degeneration from age or from placing more demands on the joint than it can bear. Elite players in soccer, long-distance running and tennis have an increased risk of... Full Answer
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