Arthritis does not refer to a single disease. The fact is that there are almost 100 different kinds of arthritis. People can have this condition at any age. It can happen to people of any sex or race. But it is more common in women. People get more susceptible to it as they get older.
Symptoms Of Arthritis
In order to know about the onset of this condition, it is important to recognize the common symptoms. These include swelling, pain along with stiffness leading to reduction in the range of motion. These symptoms may be consistent or happen at intervals. In some case they may be mild, and can be severe for others. These may continue like this for a long time or get better or worse over years.
In severe cases, arthritis can lead to chronic pain and difficulty in performing various tasks like walking, climbing stairs and so on. There can even be visible permanent changes to the joints in the form of knobby finger joints and so on. There are certain kinds of arthritis that affect the eyes, heart, lungs, kidneys, skin in addition to the joints.
Different Types Of Arthritis
Degenerative Arthritis – this is also known as Osteoarthritis and is the most common of all types of arthritis. In this, the cartilage which is the cushion present on the ends of bones tends to wear away. Hence when bone rubs against bone during any movement, it leads to pain and swelling besides stiffness. This makes the joints lose their strength leading to chronic pain. The factors leading to this condition include age, excess weight, family history or any kind of previous injury. When the situation is mild, it can be managed by providing adequate rest between activities. Hot and cold therapy will also help. Doing regular physical activity is a must here. Besides, healthy weight must always be maintained. The muscles around the affected joint must be strengthened in order to provide for additional support. Some form of assistive device can also be used, like a walking stick and so on. There are over-the-counter pain relievers as well as anti-inflammatory medicines available in order to relieve the pain. Care has to be taken to avoid any kind of excessive movements being repeated on a regular basis or else the condition will only become worse. In case the joint symptoms become worse and start affecting the quality of life, joint replacement can be done.
In order to prevent osteoarthritis, most important things is to stay active, maintain an ideal body weight, and avoid any kind of injury as well as repetitive movements.
Inflammatory Arthritis is another common form of arthritis in which the immune system of the body gets affected. It attacks the joints with inflammation leading to joint erosion. This condition can also damage internal organs, besides eyes and various other parts of the body. It can lead to rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis among others.
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