Old Body, Young Joints: How to Reduce the Risk of Joint Problems

As we all know, growing older is something that prompts umpteen stereotypes. As the title of today’s post might have already suggested, we are now going to hone in on your joints. Unfortunately, as you get older, these are more susceptible to problems. This can be highlighted through the fact that an estimated half of Americans will have been diagnosed with a joint-related problem by the time they surpass 65.

Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be a foregone conclusion. In other words, there are ways in which you can preserve the health of your joints as you get older, and it doesn’t have to revolve around visiting a private doctor (although if you do take such action, at least make sure they are covered by something like Incision Indemnity).

Let’s now take a look at some of the ways you can stay on top of this issue.

Believe it or not, smoking matters

A big misconception when it comes to smoking is that this is something that can only affect your lungs. As it turns out, this can impact your entire body.

Your joints fall into this category, for the simple reason, that smoking prompts inflammation. Considering the fact that inflammation is the main risk factor behind a lot of joint conditions, if you opt to give cigarettes up there’s every chance that your joints are going to benefit terrifically.

Exercise also matters – but only the right types

Unsurprisingly, exercise is something else that can aid your plight when it comes to joint pain. However, before you venture into the hills and embark on a cross-country run, let’s put it out there that only certain types of exercise are going to help you here. As you get older, you do have to be a little more careful about the exercise you choose, with low-impact ones certainly high on the agenda.

What do we mean by low-impact exercises? Hiking and swimming are two classics, and both of these have the added benefit of helping you lose weight which will put less stress on your joints.

This leads us to your diet…

As we have just alluded to, having a slim waistline is key to avoiding joint problems. While it’s certainly not a guarantee, it can make all the difference in your battle.

However, there is more to your diet than just staying thin. For example, some foods have excellent anti-inflammatory properties which can help you with joint pains as well. To coin a few examples, leafy greens and red berries are the classics but in truth, the list could go on.

The rules on hydration

As we all know, hydration has been a hot topic amongst medical experts over the years. It therefore probably won’t come as a surprise to read that a lack of hydration can impact your joint health. This is because your body will start to pull water from cartilage – which prompts obvious repercussions.