Arthritis symptoms include severe pain and limited joint functions. Joint inflammation resulting from arthritis is usually characterized by joint swelling, stiffness, warmth and redness. The inflamed joint can get tender. Since most arthritis illnesses are rheumatic in nature, the symptoms may affect other parts of the body.
It is therefore common to find arthritis patients having fever, fatigue, weight loss, feeling unwell and even having lung, kidneys or heart abnormalities.
Both men and women get arthritis
Arthritis affects women and men, adults and children. More than 350 million people worldwide suffer from arthritis. Out of the 40 million people affected by arthritis in the United States, 10 million are children. Approximately 21 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis and 2.1 million have rheumatoid arthritis. Half of the arthritis patients are below the age of 65. Almost 60% of arthritis patients in America are women.
Arthritis Risk Factors
Various forms of arthritis are a result of various risk factors, such as family history. It is more likely for a person to develop arthritis if their parents had the disorder. The gene can make the person more vulnerable to arthritis. Another arthritis risk factor is age. The risk of osteoarthritis, gout and many other forms of arthritis increases with age. The individual’s sex can also increase the chances of getting various forms of arthritis. People who have previously suffered from joint injuries in sports or accidents are more likely to develop joint arthritis. Obesity is another factor. This is due to the extra pounds of weight that are put on joints, especially the spine, hips and knees.
Visit the doctor
The first thing you should do once you have identified arthritis symptoms is to visit the doctor. The doctor will examine the history of the symptoms, review the joints for deformity and inflammation, ask questions and examine whether the disease has affected the other parts of the body. In some cases, joint fluid, blood, x-rays and blood might be tested. The patient may have to be examined severally for the certainty of arthritis symptoms.
More annoying than serious
Most of the arthritis symptoms are more annoying than serious. Severe arthritis, especially if it affects the arms or hands can make carrying out daily tasks challenging. If the joints affected by arthritis are involved in weight lifting, it can keep the person from sitting upright or walking comfortably. However, millions of arthritis patients go through severe pain, disabilities and other complications resulting from arthritis. Earlier detection and diagnosis can help prevent undesirable disability and damage. Properly guided rest and exercise programs, physical therapy, medications and surgery options can provide long-term results for arthritis patients.
Optimal health
For optimal health, it should be noted that the patient should keep communicating with the treating doctor. This is important especially for the doctors as it enables them to detect the patient’s ability to accept and tolerate the treatments. From the patient’s standpoint, they can have a better understanding of the treatment as well as know-how the condition changes them. It is also important for proper usage of medications. It is also important that the patient follows the guidelines provided by the doctors properly for faster recovery.