As you get older, you’ve probably discovered that you just can’t do everything as easily and smoothly as you once could. While you used to bounce out of bed in the morning, it may take you longer to get up and about, and your joints may become stiff and painful as the day wears on; you may also sometimes feel as though you have sand in your joints because any movement can make them feel gritty.
These are all signs of osteoarthritis, a condition in which the cartilage that absorbs the shock of the bone begins to break down from years of use. Fingers, wrists, back, hips, and knees—every joint can be affected. The stiffness usually doesn’t appear when you first wake up but tends to increase as the day goes on. The joints can also become deformed, since fluid can accumulate in them; this can make them tender to the touch.
By the age of 45, osteoarthritis starts to appear, and by the age of 75, almost everyone shows some degree of osteoarthritis.
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