Health experts highlight why arthritis affects mothers differently

Arthritis occurs in close to 40 to 60 per cent of women across the globe and is also one of the primary causes of disabilityWhile the effects of arthritis not only on men but also on women are known it affects mothers differently Arthritis is not only a physical disease says Dr Vaibhav Bagaria director Orthopaedics at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Girgaon but its one that tests the core essence of motherhoodmdasha caretakerGlobally and in the country Dr Ashraf Khan consultant orthopaedic and joint replacement surgeon Ruby Hall Clinic Wanowrie says statistics show that approximately 1 in every 4 women gets diagnosed with arthritis at some point in their lives with close to 4037 of such people being women under the age of 65mdashmost of whom are mothers and primary caregiversDr Vaibhav highlights Mothers particularly in Indian families bear a special emotional and physical burden From bending down to pick up toddlers to hopping around on errands their joints are in perpetual motion When arthritis takes holdmdashparticularly osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritismdashit starts to drain not only mobility but confidence A mother who once coordinated a whole household with ease now has trouble opening a jar or going up the stairsTaking it in their stride he says many continue to grit their teeth through pain often suppressing symptoms neglecting diagnosis and putting family ahead of themselvesWhy does arthritis affect mothers differently The Mumbaibased doctor adds The pregnancy and postpregnancy hormonal shifts the loss of calcium stores and repetitive joint trauma render mothers extremely susceptible As opposed to those women who perhaps have the option to take time off or change their lifestyles mothers do not often have this luxuryIt is not only the physical but also the emotional cost he reminds that make life difficult for them A mother who is unable to hold her child or even do daily tasks may experience guilt frustration or even depression Loss of functional independence can have a profound impact on her mental health he addsEven as mothers struggle with their daily life while dealing with arthritis Dr Vaibhav says it is important to get an early diagnosis proper calcium and vitamin D supplementation weight control regular physiotherapy and when needed surgery as it can significantly enhance quality of lifeWe must design a support network which not only identifies signs of arthritis early on but also familiarises people with seeking help Get the mothers to heed their body If they wake up with joint swelling stiffness or chronic pain then its time to seek a medical opinionmdashnot mere home remedies he suggestsWhy are women more affected by arthritisDr Ashraf says there are primarily three major reasonsHormonal factors Changes in estrogen levels particularly at menopause have been associated with more inflammation and degeneration of the jointsAutoimmune link Most autoimmune types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus occur more frequently in women because of immune system differences that are sexrelatedDifferences in joint structure Women have relatively more mobile joints and less muscle surrounding the joints making them more vulnerable to joint wear and tearatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params