ARTHRITIS

One of the common ailments among the elderly is arthritis. A disease that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints, arthritis has been rated as the number one cause of physical disability in some countries like the United States. Unlike other debilitating diseases, arthritis can affect people of both sexes and of all races, socioeconomic levels as well as geographic areas.

Arthritis, in basic terms, means joint inflammation. A joint is where two or more bones meet, for example, the hip or knee. The bones of a joint are covered with a smooth, elastic material called cartilage. The cartilage acts as cushion to the bones, which enables the joint to move without pain. The joint is also lined by a thin film of tissue called synovium that produces a slippery fluid called synovial fluid that nourishes the joint and helps reduce friction between the bones. When any area in and around the joint becomes inflamed, it could lead to pain, swelling and even limited mobility.

Primary and Secondary

Arthritis can be segregated into two distinct types, namely primary and secondary Arthritis. Primary Arthritis is often referred to as the ‘wear-and-tear' Arthritis, as it is associated with aging and the degeneration of the cartilage with the advent of age. In fact, the older a person gets, the more likely he or she will experience some form of primary Arthritis. Aside from age, there is no apparent cause for primary Arthritis. Secondary Arthritis, on the other hand, can be traced to an apparent cause. The breakdown of cartilage in this case can be linked to causes such as obesity, injury, hereditary, etc

Arthritis Symptoms

Arthritis affects each individual differently and at varying severity. Despite this, several general Arthritis Symptoms have been identified. They are:

*joint soreness after periods of inactivity or even overuse.

*morning stiffness that usually does not last more than 30 minutes.

*pain from weakened muscles surrounding the joint.

*decline in coordination, posture and movement due to pain and stiffness.

Who is At Risk

Arthritis often affects middle-aged and older people. Men under the age of 55 are more likely to be afflicted compared to women of the same age group. However, beyond the age of 55, women are the more commonly affected. Overall, there are more women with OA compared to men because it is believed that the broader female hip places continuing stress on the knees, which may lead to the development of Arthritis.

Risk Factors

Despite being one of the oldest forms of arthritis, the cause for Arthritis is still not completely known. However, several risk factors that may lead to Arthritis have been identified. These factors include:

Age

An important risk factor, as wear and tear plays a significant part in the development of Arthritis. In short, the incidences of Arthritis increase with age and with more use of the joints.

Obesity

Next to age, body weight is another crucial factor in developing Arthritis. This is especially so for the knees, as they are the joints that carry the brunt of the body weight. According to the Arthritis Foundation, for every pound of weight you gain, you are in fact adding 3 pounds of pressure on your knees and 6 times the pressure on your hips.

Genetics

Genetics is fast becoming a prevalent factor in Arthritis development, especially in the hands. For instance, a person may have inherited a defect in the genes responsible for making cartilage. Also, those born with joint abnormalities, for example scoliosis of the spine, are more likely to develop OA in that particular part as well.

Injury or Overusing Joints

Injuries, be it from sport or daily activity, also contribute to the occurrence of Arthritis. Athletes who have experienced knee related injuries may be at higher risk of having OA. Similarly, the stress placed on certain joints from daily repetitive motions, for example, from typing or operating machinery, may lead to the development of Arthritis later in life.

Muscle Weakness

According to the Arthritis Foundation, studies have shown that the weakening of muscles in and around the knee area can be a precursor to OA. At the same time, these studies also revealed that strengthening the thigh muscle can help to reduce the risk of Arthritis.

Other Diseases

Other than the above factors, the presence of other diseases or conditions also contribute directly to the development of Arthritis. For example, people with rheumatoid arthritis are more prone to having Arthritis. Similarly, those with conditions such as hemachromotosis or too much iron can experience chronic cartilage deterioration that may lead to Arthritis.

By: cptan

Labels: arthritis, arthritis joint pain, arthritis knee, arthritis pain, arthritis pain relief, arthritis relief, joint arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms arthritis, treatment arthritis

Anklyosing Spondylitis - a chronic, inflammatory disease that affects the spine. The common symptoms include lower back pain and stiffness that lasts for more than a period of three months, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, weight loss, and low-grade fever.

• Gout - this disease usually affects the joints of the big toe, but can extend to the ankles, heels, knees, wrists, fingers, and elbow. The common symptoms are tenderness, pain, redness, warmth, and swelling of the affected joint.


• Infectious Arthritis - this type of arthritis is caused by an infection, and can be caused by both bacterial and viral infections. The onset of infectious arthritis is sudden and the symptoms include swelling of the joint, soreness, warmth, leakage of tissue fluid, fever, and chills.


• Cervical arthritis - this type of arthritis affects the upper back and can cause pain in the neck and arms. Cervical arthritis is caused when the cartilage protecting the discs that support the neck deteriorate. The most common symptom of cervical arthritis is chronic neck pain, but can include loss of balance, headaches, muscle weakness, and stiffness.


• Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis - this inflammatory arthritis affects children. The most common symptoms of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis are swelling, pain, and stiffness in joints. The symptoms are usually worse in children upon waking in the morning and after a nap. There is no known reason for the onset of arthritis in children and, unlike rheumatoid arthritis in adults, children sometimes outgrow the disease and the symptoms disappear.

These are just some of the many types of arthritis. In general terms, arthritis is any disease that involves inflammation - swelling and pain of the joints or muscles. If you suspect that you suffer from arthritis, you should consult your physician to determine the type of arthritis and learn what treatments are available.

Labels: arthritis, arthritis joint pain, arthritis knee, arthritis pain joint arthritis, arthritis pain relief, arthritis relief, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms arthritis, treatment arthritis

Arthritis covers a broad spectrum of disease. To many, the term arthritis means pain and inflammation of the joints - but, arthritis is a much more complex medical condition. The term arthritis comes from the Latin phrase, "arth" meaning joint and "it is" meaning inflammation. There are over 100 illnesses associated with the term arthritis. Arthritis can range from something as simple as tendonitis to something as chronic as rheumatoid arthritis.

Three Most Common Types of Arthritis

* Osteoarthritis - the most common type of arthritis. This degenerative joint disease affects over 16 million Americans. This form of arthritis is caused when the cartilage surrounding the ends of the bones begins to degenerate and the joints are no longer cushioned. This caused the joints to rub together and in severe cases, you can hear the bones grating against one another. At the onset of osteoarthritis, the symptoms are usually mild and consist of pain and stiffness of the joints. As the disease progresses, inflammation and loss of motion can occur. In some severe cases, deformity can occur if the grinding joints wear one side of the joint more than the other.

* Rheumatoid arthritis - This is the second most common type of arthritis and the most severe. Symptoms usually begin appearing between the ages of 25 and 50 - however, children and senior citizens can experience the onset of this disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an autoimmune disease because factors other than wear and tear of cartilage can cause the disease and the disease can affect other organs, such as the eyes, lungs, and heart.

Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects the joints on both sides of the body - for instance, both hands will be affected, both wrists will be affected, and both legs will be affected. The most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are pain, stiffness, swelling, redness of the skin, fatigue, weight loss, and low-grade fever. Not only affecting the joints, rheumatoid arthritis can give you an overall feeling of sickness. Rheumatoid arthritis can be a debilitating disease, however patients can experience periods of remission in which the symptoms disappear and they can lead a normal life.

* Fibromyalgia - This is a type of arthritis that does not directly affect the joints. Rather, the inflammation and pain affect the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and soft tissues under the skin. Many patients have tender spots under the skin that are painful when any type of pressure is applied. The symptoms for Fibromyalgia include deep muscle pain, fatigue, sleeplessness, and depression. Symptoms may come and go, but the disease is long term and chronic.

By: Dr John Anne

Labels: arthritis, arthritis joint pain, arthritis knee, arthritis pain, arthritis relief, joint arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms arthritis, treatment arthritis

Welcome to Arthritis blog...

Labels: arthritis, arthritis joint pain, arthritis knee, arthritis pain, arthritis relief, joint arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms arthritis, treatment arthritis