China News Service, Beijing, October 12 (Zhang Yilin) ​​The weather turns cold, and some elderly people have difficulty going up and downstairs, and are troubled by repeated knee joint pain. Many people think that the cold "old cold legs" has occurred.

Are "old cold legs" really frozen out?

Why do joints hurt when I get cold?

  October 12th is World Arthritis Day. Today, let us uncover the truth about "old cold legs".

Data map.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Yang Kejia

It hurts!

Veteran drivers, office workers, and beauty students should pay attention!

  What we often call "old cold legs" is generally osteoarthritis.

As one of the most common chronic diseases, arthritis is among the most common types of joint inflammation, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

  According to data released by the WHO this year, more than 300 million people worldwide suffer from osteoarthritis.

Lin Jianhao, director of the Department of Osteoarthritis, Peking University People's Hospital, introduced last year that from a global perspective, osteoarthritis is a common musculoskeletal disease in people over 60, and it is also the main cause of disability among middle-aged and elderly people.

  People often think that arthritis is a senile disease. In fact, people of all ages, even children, are likely to suffer from this disease.

  Drivers who drive for a long time, women who wear high heels for a long time, elderly people with joint injuries, office workers who usually sit for a long time... these are all people who are prone to arthritis.

  With the prevalence of aging and obesity, the incidence of osteoarthritis is increasing, gradually spreading to young people and physically active people.

  Difficulty going up and down stairs, repeated knee joint pain, walking creaky, rainy days are like a "weather forecast"... It is likely to be osteoarthritis of the knee joint.

  Liao Qiuju, an attending physician at the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, once told the media that patients with osteoarthritis have varying degrees of illness. Mild osteoarthritis manifests as joint pain when going up and downstairs, or squatting effortlessly.

  Severe osteoarthritis is mainly manifested as deformity of the knee joint, restricted movement, obvious joint swelling and pain, etc. In severe cases, it is impossible to walk, which affects the quality of life.

"Old cold legs" are not "frozen"

But the long trousers should be worn and have to be worn!

  With waves of attacks from the cold air, my mother's instructions reverberated in my mind: Do not wear long trousers and be careful that you will get "old cold legs" when you get old.

  Liao Qiuju said that the cause of osteoarthritis has little to do with the cold when young, but it is related to various factors such as degenerative disease and autoimmunity. In addition to age, obesity, trauma and disease are also risk factors for the disease.

  Experts from the Health Education Institute of Beijing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have also introduced that as age increases, knee cartilage will become thinner and joint fluid will decrease. In addition, some bad daily knee joint usage habits will accelerate cartilage loss, and it will be prone to pain, redness and swelling. , Decreased flexibility and other symptoms.

  The knee joint is a relatively large weight-bearing joint in the human body.

  Therefore, there is no direct causal relationship between cold and the onset of osteoarthritis, but it may aggravate the existing symptoms of osteoarthritis and affect the treatment effect.

  Experts say that the knee joint is a joint that loves warmth and is afraid of cold.

If the cold has caused discomfort in the knee joints, or the legs feel cold for a long time, etc., long trousers should be worn.

Data map: People line up for registration in the outpatient building of a hospital.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Yin Liqin

Joints are most afraid of these five words

In addition to "old" and "fat", there are...

  Experts say that since there is no cure for osteoarthritis, it should be paid attention to by all people. Appropriate interventions can be taken for arthritis every day to help relieve symptoms and maintain joint movement.

  Jiang Qing, Director of Sports Medicine and Adult Reconstructive Surgery at the Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University School of Medicine, once told the media that in life, some unhealthy factors that we can self-regulate can also seriously affect joint health.

To sum up, joints are most afraid of the following 5 words:

  Old age: With age, the supply of cartilage nutrition is insufficient, the inorganic matter in the bones increases, and the elasticity and toughness of the bones decrease, which easily leads to articular cartilage and bone degeneration.

  Obesity: If you are obese or overweight, you will face a higher risk of osteoarthritis.

On the one hand, weight will increase the weight-bearing pressure of the joints of the lower limbs; on the other hand, many studies have found that metabolic abnormalities can also cause certain damage to the joints.

  Injuries: Trauma is an important reason for young people to become entangled in osteoarthritis.

During exercise, if acute trauma occurs, you must go to the hospital for treatment in time to avoid sequelae.

In addition, chronic joint strain and non-acute injuries caused by incorrect exercise methods can also increase the risk of osteoarthritis.

  Qin: If the joints are used too hard, it is easy to cause mechanical wear and tear, destroy the cartilage, and cause osteoarthritis.

Too frequent mountain climbing, climbing stairs and other sports are very harmful to joints.

  Cold: If you are already suffering from osteoarthritis, you need to keep warm.

Because for people with poor joints, cold can aggravate the condition.

  Experts suggest that to protect joints, avoid standing for a long time, sitting for a long time, and exercising moderately.

If you find signs of sinking legs, morning stiffness, joint ringing, etc., you must seek medical attention as soon as possible.

In addition, people suffering from arthritis must be treated in time, otherwise not only the knee joint will deform and lead to looped legs, but also depression, osteoporosis, coronary heart disease and other diseases due to long-term disability, which will bring economic and spiritual double blows to patients and families. .

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