While the awareness towards lifestyle disorders has increased, the lack of knowledge has hampered treatment and cure for diseases, including Akylosing Spondylitis (AS), also known as chronic inflammation of joints, spine and hip.
In 40 per cent cases, it also affects other peripheral joints such as shoulders, ribs, hips, bowel, knees, and/or the small joints of the hands and feet. Sometimes it can affect other organs including the eyes, and very rarely, the heart and lungs. Since AS is one from the family of arthritis-related diseases, in later stage the condition may accelerate the risk of reducing flexibility, damaging body posture, and posing loss of mobility.
The genes, passed from parents to children (in particular, gene called HlA-B27) and the environmental factors, both plays a vital role in the introducing AS to an individual. The condition is more prevalent amongst youngsters of the age group below 40 years, due to sedentary lifestyle, improper sitting posture, stress and highly demanding work life, which in turn aggravates the condition, making the pain worse.
“Akylosing Spondylitis (AS) is more common in men than women and its cases are increasing affecting one in every 1000 of the adult population in India,” said Dr Sonal Mehra, consultant, Rheumatology Department, Jaypee Hospital.
AS can’t be cured completely but can be treated and managed with the help of medication, therapies and lifestyle modification. Treatment options like painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs and disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs are prescribed to ease pain and stiffness.