Pakistan and countries around the world are marking World Arthritis Day, an observance meant to raise awareness of a condition that affects more than one billion people globally. The day encourages people to see a doctor when symptoms appear and aims to improve public understanding of these conditions.
More than 100 conditions fall under arthritis
Arthritis is not a single disease but an umbrella term covering more than 100 conditions that affect joints, the tissues around them and other connective tissues. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout are among the most common forms.
Health experts note that for decades joint pain was widely viewed as a sign that a person’s active years were over. They say that, with early diagnosis and timely treatment, patients can now control the disease and live full lives.
Early diagnosis and modern treatment options
Dr Mahmood Riaz, a rheumatologist at Aga Khan Hospital, stressed that joint symptoms should be recognised and addressed early. He said effective care can halt damage and prevent disability, and that painkillers on their own are not sufficient.
According to Dr Riaz, modern care includes disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, biologic medicines, targeted therapies and brief steroid courses, alongside physiotherapy, exercise, weight control and quitting smoking. The aims are to keep inflammation in check, reach remission or low disease activity, and avoid erosions, deformities, loss of work and disability.
Treatment, he said, must be consistent, monitored and adjusted over time, and should never be halted independently. Dr Riaz also cautioned that arthritis is not simply the aches of growing older, and that persistent swelling and morning stiffness warrant prompt rheumatology review.
Dr Saman Ali on timely care and complications
Dr Saman Ali, also a rheumatologist at Aga Khan Hospital, underlined the value of prompt diagnosis. Swelling and related symptoms can grow more severe, particularly in women, and call for proper medical assessment.
Specialists add that age-related bone and joint conditions can often be managed well when diagnosed and treated in time. Delays in seeking care, however, can lead to complications and sometimes surgery, which also makes treatment more expensive.
