Women and arthritis

Arthritis primarily affects women, leaving behind more severe and difficult-to-treat damage compared to men. Nowadays, this disease is increasingly affecting younger women.

Knee arthritis is increasingly affecting young women - Photo: Shutterstock

In 2000, more than 53,000 women in the U.S. aged 20-39 were diagnosed with arthritis; ten years later, that number skyrocketed to 230,000, according to orthopedic surgeon Zackary Vaughn, as reported on the health website Womenshealthmag. According to Dr. Vaughn, several factors contribute to this condition.

Ligament injury.Ligaments are like rubber bands; normally, they are elastic. When a ligament is stretched too much, just like a stretched rubber band, it will never return to its normal state. In some severe cases, the ligament ends tear, no longer connecting to the bone, causing severe pain.

Ligament injuries can result from activities related to sports or excessive walking. More than half of women who suffer ligament-related injuries will end up with arthritis.

HormoneHormones can make women's joints more vulnerable to damage. Recent research shows that knee muscles work differently at different points in the menstrual cycle, which can compromise joint stability and increase the risk of injury.

SexScientists at Oregon State University (USA) discovered that men's muscles respond to nerve impulses faster than women's. This difference suggests that women's muscles are less likely to react effectively in critical moments, making them more prone to joint injuries.

Cartilage damage.According to orthopedic surgeon Donald Goodfellow in the US, losing balance in simple positions like squatting can damage the cartilage in the knee.

Although it's impossible to completely avoid arthritis (due to the natural breakdown of cartilage as we age), we can limit damage to keep our knee joints healthy. Obesity is a risk factor for arthritis, so experts say maintaining a healthy weight is key to preventing this disease from developing.

Tosteoarthritis of the kneeOsteoarthritis is a condition of joint aging. The articular cartilage ages, becoming rough, losing its smoothness, elasticity, dryness, cracking, wear, and defects. The degree of aging varies from person to person, depending on their living conditions. The three most common symptoms of knee osteoarthritis are joint pain, swelling, and limited mobility.

CigaretteAccording to numerous studies, components in tobacco can damage healthy cartilage cells. High heels are also a culprit in harming joints, as the body weight is concentrated on the feet, especially putting strain on the knee joints while moving, says Dr. Constance Chu, an expert in sports training at Stanford University (USA).

According to Thanh Nien