Copyright 2006 Adam Waxler
Arthritis affects people in a variety of ways. Joints may be
stiff and creak. For others who suffer from arthritis, joints
might crack suddenly, like knees upon standing. For many
arthritis sufferers, pain occurs, like when trying to open a jar.
What's it all about? Let's take a look at the basics of
arthritis and learn more.
Arthritis actually means "joint inflammation" and has over 100
related conditions or forms of the disease. If arthritis is left
untreated, it can advance, resulting in joint damage that cannot
be reversed. Therefore, early detection of arthritis and
arthritis treatment are important.
The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA)
and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although both type of arthritis
have similar symptoms, both happen for different reasons. When
joints are overused and misused, the results can be
osteoarthritis (OA). What happens is that the cushioning
cartilage that protects the joint breaks down, resulting in the
bones rubbing together. This generally happens in the knees, but
can be found in the hips, spine and hands as well. And, only in
the later stages of osteoarthritis will a person most often feel
pain, after quite a bit of cartilage is lost.
The second type, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), refers to the body's
immune system attacking joint tissue. Still not fully understood
in the medical community, rheumatoid arthritis most often starts
in a person's hands, wrists and feet. Then rheumatoid arthritis
advances to shoulders, elbows and hips.
Similar symptoms include pain, stiffness, fatigue, weakness,
slight fever, and inflamed tissue lumps under the skin. And both
osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis generally develop
symmetrically, i.e. affecting the same joints on both the left
and right sides of the body.
A difference in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis to note
is with swelling. With rheumatoid arthritis, people report "soft
and squishy" swelling. While with osteoarthritis, people report
"hard and bony" swelling.
Another difference between the two types of
arthritis is that a
person is more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis if a
sibling or parent had it. While a person with a history of joint
damage, either an injury or chronic strain, runs a higher risk
for developing osteoarthritis.
Arthritis can affect any age group. However, while there is no
specific age for arthritis sufferers, arthritis seems to focus
on those over 45 years of age.
And, while neither gender is immune, a reported 74 percent of
osteoarthritis cases (or just over 15 million) occur with women
and a slightly lower percentage of rheumatoid arthritis cases
occur with women.
Furthermore, your health, particularly your weight, plays a role
in the development of arthritis. People with excess weight tend
to develop osteoarthritis, especially in the knees when reaching
over 45 years of age. However, losing weight can turn the odds
around almost by half. Regular activity combined with exercise
also reduces risk of arthritis, strengthening joint muscles and
reducing joint wear.
Although there are no cure-alls for arthritis, there are a
variety of pain relief treatment strategies. Aside from
medications, remedies, replacement alternatives and other
helpful treatment options, the four main arthritis relief aids
are gentle exercise, good nutrition, a positive attitude, and
rest. Education also plays a huge role to dispel "old wives
tales" and myths that "nothing can be done about arthritis."
If you suspect you may have arthritis, it is advisable to seek
medical advice. The sooner you detect the arthritis and the type
of arthritis the better off you'll be. Furthermore, your
symptoms may not be caused by arthritis, but may be caused by
something else like a virus or tendonitis or other similar
problem that could potentially worsen if left untreated.
About the author:
Adam Waxler publishes a series of health & fitness information
products and web sites including his new resource filled with
with FREE articles and tips on Arthritis Pain Relief &
Prevention @ http://www.1-800-health-teacher.com/arthritis
Written by: Adam Waxler
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