Osteoarthritis: a disease that affects 15 million Brazilians

Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as arthrosis, is a degenerative and inflammatory joint disease, with no cure yet, which particularly affects the knee, hip, spine and hand joints. The figures for this disease are impressive: 15 million Brazilians suffer from it, according to the Ministry of Health.

The disease can have different causes: post-traumatic, age, genetic issues, excess weight and obesity. The elderly are the age group most affected by the disease, but what we are seeing is a considerable increase in young people diagnosed with OA.

According to the World Health Organization, OA is in fourth place in the ranking of pathologies responsible for loss of quality of life. People with arthritis suffer a lot of pain, stiffness and locking of the joints, which leads to reduced mobility.

There are various options that can help the patient live a comfortable life. In the most severe cases, knee and hip replacements are an option.

The ideal is to treat the symptoms in the least invasive way possible. A great ally for this is collagen peptide. In a study presented at the World Osteoarthritis Congress (OARSI) in the United States on the use of collagen peptide to combat symptoms, the results proved that it has a chondroprotective effect on cartilage. It also has a prolonged anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.

Supplementation with chelated minerals and vitamin E, both antioxidants, has also proved very important for these patients, since one of the causes/consequences of OA can be oxidative stress, when the body doesn't produce the amount of antioxidants needed to fight free radicals.

Osteoarthritis patients need to seek alternative treatments from their doctor that will allow them to lead a normal life with less pain.

DAILY NEWSPAPER OF S. PAULO | 18/09/2017