The drug semaglutide, known as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss, helped relieve knee pain in obese people with osteoarthritis. A big study showed this.
Some experts were surprised by how well it worked. Dr. Bob Carter said the pain decreased by almost 50%, which is a lot. Dr. David T. Felson added that it’s even better than other treatments, like knee surgery.
The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Knee osteoarthritis is common in adults over 45, especially in those who are obese. This is because extra weight puts pressure on the knee and causes inflammation that damages cartilage.
There are not many good treatments for knee arthritis. Doctors usually recommend over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, even though long-term use can harm important organs.
Vocabulary List:
- Osteoarthritis /ˌɑː.sti.əʊ.ɑːˈθraɪ.tɪs/ (noun): A degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of cartilage and underlying bone.
- Inflammation /ˌɪn.fləˈmeɪ.ʃən/ (noun): The body’s response to injury or infection characterized by redness heat swelling and pain.
- Cartilage /ˈkɑːr.tɪ.lɪdʒ/ (noun): A firm flexible connective tissue found in various parts of the body.
- Medications /ˌmedɪˈkeɪʃənz/ (noun): Substances used for medical treatment especially pharmaceuticals.
- Relieve /rɪˈliːv/ (verb): To cause (pain distress etc.) to become less severe.
- Obese /oʊˈbiːs/ (adjective): Having an excessive amount of body fat; seriously overweight.
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