Many individuals start to feel stiffness and pain in their bodies with time. Some times their hands or knees or shoulders get sores and are hard to move and may become swollen. These kinds of people have arthritis. Therefore, Arthritis is an inflammation of the points of intersection of the bones in more than one area of the body.
Types of arthritis
There are many different types arthritis, all of which have different causes and treatments methods. The most two common ones are osteoarthritis and the rheumatoid arthritis. It is commonly seen in adults over the age of 65 years. The condition mostly affects the knees, finger and hips. At times it follows an injury on the joint.
The Rheumatoid arthritis comes in when the body’s defense system is not able to work properly. It affects bones and joints and it may also affect the internal organs and the systems.
Another type of arthritis is gout; it is mostly caused by crystals that build up around the joints. It mostly affects the toe, though many other joints may get affected.
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, arthritis is commonly in women than men especially those that are overweight.
Arthritis appears in different conditions
Arthritis appears in different conditions. These are:
- Lopus (LOOP- us)- this is where the body’s protection mechanism can harm the joints, the kidneys, the skin, the heart and other organs.
- Infection- this gets into a joint and destroys the cushion between the bones.
The cause of arthritis
Some forms of arthritis are caused by decreased in the normal amount of the cartilage tissue. Osteoarthritis one of the most common forms of arthritis is caused by normal wear and tear throughout the life, the natural breakdown of cartilage tissue is inflamed by an infection to the joints.
Another common one is the Rheumatoid arthritis, its attacks affects the synovium that releases a fluid which nourishes and lubricates the joints. Its précised cause of the immune systems attacks has not been discovered, but scientists
have established the genetic markers that increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
Signs of arthritis
Pain is the way the body responds to something wrong. Most types of arthritis cause pain in your joints, causing trouble in moving around. Other kinds of arthritis affect various parts of the body. A long pain in the
joints, one may:
- Lose weight
- Have breathing problems
- Get a itch or a rash
- Have fever
How to diagnose arthritis
Diagnosis starts with the physician carrying out a physical examination during which he or she checks the limited range of motion in the joints, the warm or red joints or the feeling of the fluid around joints.
Analysis and removal of the body fluids like joint fluid and blood helps the doctor to establish the kind of arthritis by finding out the levels of inflammation.
Treating arthritis
The main aim of treatment is to lower the amount of pain you are experiencing and prevent any damage to the joints. Improving the joints function is also essential.
Use of medication
Medications that can help arthritis symptoms include Tylenol and vicodin.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory helps in controlling both inflammation and pain, they have been linked to higher risk of heart attack.
Surgery
Surgery to replacing joints with artificial one may be an option. This is mostly performed on knees and hips.
Physical therapy
This involves exercises to help strengthen muscles around the affected joints.