New Delhi: Covid has left behind a serious scar for us to deal with, most of them to do with the respiratory tract but the virus has also meddled with other internal functions including cardiac and bone health. Research suggests that post the pandemic, there has been a steady surge in such issues although it is nearly impossible to pin point the exact reason for the cause of this upward spiral.
According to the NCBI, “COVID-19 disease is a potential cause of inflammatory arthritis, with both rheumatoid arthritis and reactive arthritis demonstrated in our PoCoS population. Care must be taken to identify these conditions, as there are treatment ramifications,” the note on the website is screaming out. And today is a good day to talk about the strides India has made in the cure of arthritis and whether we are engaging in enough research surrounding this ailment. There is conclusive evidence that suggests we are doing both and we are doing them right.
Why has rheumatoid arthritis increased in the decade
Doctors have advised that people can develop some reactive arthritis after COVID-19. The symptoms of which include sudden onset joint pain and swelling, often in multiple joints. This is so because the inflammation caused due to the virus has a serious and lasting impact on the tissue as well. But first, what exactly is reactive arthritis? In medical parlance, it can occur after any severe infections, even if joint pain wasn’t a symptom during the initial illness. It is also believed that arthritis that develops after COVID-19 may be the result of long COVID, or it may be a temporary side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Going back to a 2021 study which talked about how post the pandemic arthritis is occurring primarily as an outcome of inflammation, part of our body’s natural immune response. There are other reports that suggest the linkage between viral infections (other than Covid) and arthritis. According to a 2022 review, reactive arthritis has been seen to occur in genetically predisposed individuals around 1–4 weeks after a variety of infections. This includes the respiratory virus SARS-CoV-2 and some infections of the digestive or urinary tract as well.
There have sample studies to showcase this as well. One such research was conducted on 100 people from Egypt who had recovered from COVID-19 several months prior. The incidence of arthritis in them post recovery was gauged at 37 per cent. To determine why this happened, experts tested for markers of inflammation and autoimmunity in the participants and they stumbled upon a “strong association between post-COVID-19 arthritis and inflammation but not between post-COVID-19 arthritis and autoimmunity.”
To break this down for us, lingering inflammation is the cause for arthritis to be on such a remarkable rise post the pandemic. But is it getting younger too? Let’s examine…
Why are teenagers diagnosed with arthritis?
Although it is not an age-related concern, bone health is considered to be a problem that is frequently faced by the elderly. However, lifestyle changes and environmental challenges have made the onset of every disease become earlier than later. We can say the same thing about various cancers too and even diabetes which is getting younger by the day. There are a host of reasons that can cause arthritis in the young:
It’s in the genes: If weak bone health is a part and parcel of a family. it can increase the likelihood of you developing it at an early stage. Doctors have identified some genes, such as the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene class II, can increase the risk of arthritis.
Are you prone to injuries: Joint injuries from sports or other activities have been noted to worsen over time and lead to arthritis. If you are heavily into sporting activities, it could be a reason for your arthritis at a later stage.
Lifestyle changes is a huge marker: Being overweight, sedentary, or having a job that requires sitting for long periods can increase the risk of arthritis even in a twenty-year-old.
Postural problems are the biggest enemy: You have heard it before, but there is no harm in us reiterating – poor posture is the number one reason why you got arthritis.
Other health conditions: Having other health conditions, such as diabetes, autoimmune diseases, or growth hormone disorders, can increase the risk of arthritis.
Are you smoking: Smoking and other tobacco use can increase the risk of arthritis manifold. This has been heavily researched and there is umpteen proof that points towards how smoking can cause acute inflammation which may result in a severe form of arthritis in both men and women.
There is no denying that bone health is deteriorating in our populace, be it young or old. Whether it is a reactive arthritis or the more severe form of rheumatoid arthritis, the disease is getting younger and also more virulent by the day. While researchers are burning midnight oil to come up with a solution to arrest inflammation, there is still a long way to go. Until then, maintaining a healthy and non sedentary lifestyle can help you mitigate the dangers of all forms of arthritis.
Post Covid, bone health seems to have taken a serious beating. Cases of arthritis have been on the rise, and the disease has transcended age boundaries. Can we do anything to stop the spread of this lethal ailment before it’s too late? Experts say yes! Health News Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
