Our
pages are created to provide medically accurate information that is
intended
to complement, not replace or substitute in any way the services of
your
physician.
Any
application of the recommendations set forth in the following pages is
at the reader's discretion and sole risk. Before undergoing medical
treatment,
you should consult with your doctor, who can best assess your
individual
needs, symptoms and treatment.
A R
T H R I T I S
Arthritis
is the most significant, treatable cause of disability in the Western
world.
In
all of its more than 100 forms, arthritis is one of the most common
chronic
conditions.
The
only way to prevent arthritis is to find a cure. There is no lifestyle
change you can make to prevent arthritis.
Some
forms of arthritis if not properly diagnosed and treated, can be fatal.
Today
thanks to research, physicians are now able to diagnose arthritis early
and treat the symptoms. In most cases, treatment prevents permanent,
disabling
damage.
Some
types
of arthritis may be caused by virus or bacterium: others may be brought
on by a biochemical defect. Still others may have their roots in the
genetic
code. Joints also may be strained simply by having to support an
overweight
body..
SIGNS
OF ARTHRITIS
Symptoms
can be either persistent or recurrent. So even if you have
discomfort
that lasts for only a short while but keeps coming back, it's worth
having
it checked out by a doctor. All arthritides feature pain, which
is generally worse in the morning and on initiating movement, and
resolves
in the cause of time. In elderly people and children, the pain may not
be the main feature, and the patient simply moves less (elderly) or
refuse
to use the affected limb (children).
Other
warning signs may include:
-
Any kind of joint swelling
-
A redness or discoloration around a joint
-
Any discomfort that's bothersome enough to be disabling
IN
CHILDREN:
-
Not crawling and walking
-
Limping or not taking part in usual activities
-
Persistent irritability, crying, discomfort
Until
now doctors could only really deliver symptomatic care for arthritis,
including
exercise, pain relief, anti-inflammatory medication and improving joint
mobility.
New
developments may make it possible to tackle the pain and inflammation -
causing mechanisms at a much earlier stage. Research
is the only route to discovering new and better ways to manage and
treat
arthritis.
The
Arthritis Society provide you with many programs
& resources for learning more about arthritis.
OSTEOARTHRITIS
The most
common type
of arthritis is (OA) OSTEOARTHRITIS . Stress on the weight - bearing
joints
- including hips, ankles, knees, fingers and spine - causes the
breakdown
of cartilage, the elastic - like pads that act as shock absorbers in
the
joints. Injuries, often from sports and the repetitive activities
involved
in some occupations, such as construction work and house painting
account
for many cases of osteoarthritis. Unlike the autoimmune diseases,
osteoarthritis
largely affects older people and results from the degeneration of joint
cartilage.
RHEUMATOID
ARTHRITIS
The second
most common type
of arthritis is (RA) RHEUMATOID arthritis, on the other hand is an auto
immune disease, caused when the immune system actually turns on the
body
and starts to attack the joints and lead to substantive loss of
mobility
due to pain and joint destruction. RA is a disabling and painful
inflammatory
condition, which affects women three times more than men.
ANKYLOSING
SPONDYLITIS
Other
most common types
of arthritis that are classified as auto immune diseases include (AS)
ANKYLOSING
SPONDYLITIS, which causes inflammation in the spinal joints. Ankylosing
spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, progressive inflammatory arthritis
primarily
affecting spine and sacroiliac joints, causing eventual fusion of the
spine.
Complete fusion results in a complete rigidity of the spine, a
condition
known as bamboo spine. AS does tend to run in families and affects many
more males than females.
Physical
therapy and exercise, along with medication, are at the heart of
therapy
for ankylosating spondylitis.
Arthritis (from Greek arthro-,
joint + -itis, inflammation) is a group of conditions that affect the
health
of the bone joints in the body. One in three adult Americans suffer
from
some form of arthritis and the disease affects about twice as many
women
as men. Arthritic joints can be sensitive to weather changes. The
increased
sensitivity is thought to be caused by the affected joints developing
extra
nerve endings in an attempt to protect the joint from further damage.
