Arthritis & Osteoarthritis – Spiritual Meaning And Causes

Arthritis is a joint disorder featuring inflammation. There are more than 200 different types of arthritis, with varying methods of treatment, symptoms, and causes.

Two of the most common forms are osteoarthritis (related to wear and tear of cartilage) and rheumatoid arthritis (inflammation resulting from an overactive immune system).

Arthritis sufferers include women and men, adults and children.

From 2013 to 2015, an estimated 300,000 children and 54.4 million adults in the US have received a diagnosis of some form of arthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

By 2040, more than 78 million American adults are projected to have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.

Causes

Although the precise cause of this condition may be difficult to identify, here are some common factors to be aware of:

• smoking tobacco – some studies concluded that individuals who smoke are at an increased risk of developing this condition;
• having a standard American diet – this diet is high in omega-6 fatty acids (like – peanut, corn, safflower, sunflower, and soy oils), which are healthy in small doses; however,  excessive intake of omega 6 combined with low consumption of omega 3 fatty acids can trigger inflammatory chemicals;
• genes – there is some evidence that RA can run in families; nevertheless, the risk is thought to be low since genes only play a small role in this condition;
• occupation – works involving repetitive movements can increase the risk of OA and other musculoskeletal conditions;
• some types of arthritis are due to metabolic problems. These include pseudogout and gout, caused by crystal deposits within the joints;
• infections – they can cause short-lived arthritis.

Symptoms

Depending on the type of arthritis you have, your symptoms may include:

• swelling, usually accompanied by redness and warmth of the joints – typically worse after periods of rest and in the morning;
• loss of joint function;
• muscle pain;
• loss of appetite;
• joint swelling;
• changes to the nails and skin;
• decreased range of motion;
• joint pain;
• anemia, typically compounding the feeling of being generally unwell;
• mild fever;
• stiffness in the joints.

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Risk Factors

• race — some Asian populations have a lower risk for arthritis;
• genetics — people who have family members with arthritis are more likely to develop arthritis;
• being obese — extra weight puts more stress on joints, especially weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips;
• gender — women are more likely to develop arthritis than men, particularly after age 50;
• age — the risk of developing arthritis increases with age;
• joint injury or overuse — injury or overuse, like repetitive stress on a joint and knee bending, can damage a joint and increase the risk of osteoarthritis in that joint.

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Spiritual Meaning of Arthritis

Arthritis forces you to stop, compensating for the over-activity on the physical level, because of which you have become rigid inside, “hardheaded,” and stubborn. Perhaps you are very moralist and fastidious.

This leads to fierce, resentment, lack of humor, and ultimately to feeling unloved. However, love is everywhere, and you just have to open yourself and let it embrace you.

Be friendly, loving, and understanding with yourself, and you will be able to treat others the same way. In turn, people will offer you the same treatment (according to the Law of Affinity).

Be free and allow others the same right to freedom.

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Spiritual Meaning of Osteoarthritis (OA)

OA is an escalation of the symptoms mentioned in the case of arthritis. The person who suffers from OA is more rigid in concepts and opinions, finally becoming “rusty.”

The flexibility of the self will gradually restore physical mobility. The whole creation is constantly moving. Enjoy life’s dance.

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Prevention

Exercise

Physical exercise not only takes the stress of unnecessary weight off your joints but also strengthens the muscles around the joints.

This, ultimately, stabilizes them and can protect them from added tear and wear.

Note – it is essential to avoid sports injuries, like – a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament that may lead to OA years or decades later.

Goods exercise includes low-impact sport like swimming and biking, along with pilates, Tai Chi, and yoga, plus walking (if it is not too fast).

Spend Time Outdoors

Spending time outdoors exposes us to sunshine (to get the much-need vitamin D) as well as a wide range of bacteria.

This will help our bodies to be able to build up a strong immunity to a diverse grouping of beneficial bacteria that will help us when we are faced with arthritis inflammation.

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Lose Weight

Your knees have to support your body weight (when you stand).

Being obese or overweight can take a real toll on them.

For instance, if you are just 5 kilograms overweight, the force on your knee as you take each step increases by 15 to 30 kilograms, according to studies.

Stay Hydrated

Because the cartilage in your joints is made up mostly of water, when you are dehydrated, water gets removed from the cartilage, and it is much more easily damaged by tear and wear.

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Nutrition

There is no specific diet that treats this condition; however, some types of foods may help reduce inflammation, including:

• turmeric;
• walnuts;
• broccoli;
• kale;
• spinach;
• red cabbage;
• carrots;
• almonds;
• garlic;
• red onions;
• red grapes;
• mangoes;
• papayas;
• oats;
• oat bran;
• quinoa;
• pineapples;
• apples;
• flax seeds;
• sesame seeds;
• sunflower seeds;
• pumpkin seeds;
• beetroot;
• radishes;
• turnips;
• zucchini;
• tomatoes.

Featured image credit – Shutterstock

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References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3867287/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02/12/arthritis-drugs-could
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5003001/