Proper nutrition, regular exercise crucial to managing arthritis, expert says

The Chief Executive Office of the Save Our Heritage Initiative, Ms. May Ikokwu, says eating right, and weight reduction through regular exercise are necessary for the suppression of arthritis, especially in older persons.

Ikokwu stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday on the occasion of the 2022 World Arthritis Day.

NAN reports that WAD is annually celebrated on October 12 to raise global awareness about the plurality of arthritis.

The day is also to promote awareness of the symptoms connected to the condition, as well as highlight the importance of early

diagnosis to gain access to proper medical treatment as soon as possible.

Arthritis is an umbrella term for more than 100 rheumatic diseases. Among the long list of diseases considered to be in the arthritis family are chronic diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis, gout, lupus, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “It’s In Your Hands, Take Action.”

Ikokwu, therefore, said that “the theme is set to raise awareness of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) aimed at encouraging people with RMDs and their caregivers to take action.

“This year’s theme is apt, straight to the point which is encouraging those with the condition, their families, and the public to seize every opportunity to take action and make a difference in the quality of life of people living with RMDs.”

The SOHI boss who stressed the importance of regular exercise said that conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis have no cure.

She added that “it is said that we are what we eat. People with arthritis should make the following foods part of their diet: fatty fish (salmon, tuna, sardines, scallops, anchovies) ginger and

broccoli.

“Other items to include in the diet are garlic, berries, spinach, grapes, olive oil, oatmeal, brown rice, whole grain cereals, etc.”

Ikokwu also explained that pharmaceutical therapeutic interventions could be of great help in suppressing the effects.

She said that although regular exercise and weight reduction can suppress the effects, pharmaceutical aid focuses on reducing the pain of the condition rather than seeking to remove it.

Ikokwu, who affirmed the perception that arthritis is associated with old age, said that statistical evidence shows that people who are over 65 years are primary sufferers.

She said, “arthritis restricts movement, yet, sufferers are advised to exercise and keep their joints mobile to reduce inflammation.”

(NAN)