Tips to Keep Your Joints—and Stomach—Healthy

(NC)—Osteoarthritis (OA), which affects three million Canadians, is a degenerative joint disease caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints. While NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are widely-used because of their ability to effectively relieve pain and inflammation, a new survey of Canadians with OA called Gut Check, finds that most are unaware of their risk of NSAID-associated gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, and the importance of protecting their stomach, which in some cases can be life-threatening.

If you or someone you know lives with OA, the tips below from Dr. Peter Lin, a family physician, will help keep your joints healthy, and your stomach happy.

1 Exercise to help lessen the symptoms of OA. Moderate stretching exercises will help relieve the pain and keep the muscles and tendons around the affected joint more flexible and strong, while low-impact exercises like swimming and walking can reduce pain while maintaining strength and flexibility.

2 Learn about the importance of heat and cold therapies. Heat therapy can help reduce joint pain, stiffness and muscle spasms, while cold therapy can reduce pain and swelling by constricting blood flow.

3 Know your risks! Certain factors such as age, history of GI events, concomitant use of oral corticosteroids and anticoagulants, high-dose/multiple NSAID use and concomitant use of aspirin can increase your risk for NSAID-associated GI complications.

4 If your doctor recommends taking a GI medication to protect your stomach, be sure to take it as prescribed. People living with OA often stop taking their GI medication because they feel better or prefer to take less medication, but this can have a negative impact on the stomach down the road.

Speak with your doctor about newer options to allow you to remain on therapy and receive the full benefits of your medication.

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