What Is Arthritis and What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Arthritis?
So, what is arthritis? If we look into the origin of the word, we’ll find out it came from the Greek “arthron,” which means joint. The suffix “itis” means inflammation, which together gives the idea of this disease. There are many forms of arthritis, most of them not studied well enough to make any conclusions. All the types are different, but they have some symptoms that are common, which gave scientists the reason to classify them as kinds of arthritis and not separate disorders. The main symptoms of arthritis include painful, sore, stiff and inflamed joints. In fact, there are three most common forms: rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA) and gout.
The place where two bones connect is the place that gets affected by arthritis – a joint. The joint consists of different tissues and structures. Joint cavity is a small gap that separates the two bones. On the end the bone is covered with an elastic and tough material called cartilage.
Synovial membrane is a very thin tissue that covers the space between two connecting bones. It’s responsible for protecting this area, and it periodically releases synovial fluid, which acts as a lubricant. Without synovial fluid the two bones start rubbing against each other, which causes their damage and a painful feeling.
Chronic arthritis is characterized by some kind of destruction of the parts of the joint and its inflammation. In rheumatoid arthritis it’s synovial membrane that gets inflamed, which causes it to become thick and not as elastic. As the joint is now not protected, its tissue may be affected by white blood cells.
When osteoarthritis is present, the cartilage starts wearing away and can actually break down. The bones start rubbing against each other, not being cushioned by the cartilage. Even the slightest movement of the joint causes acute pain.
Both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are the most common forms of joint arthritis. The disease can be found in women as well as in men, the women being affected three times more often. The age when people develop rheumatoid arthritis is more often between 35 and 50. Genetic predisposition is an important factor.
Osteoarthritis is responsible for many cases of disability, as it significantly limits joint movement. It can be found more frequently in older people. In fact, from sixty five to eighty five percent of the US citizens older than 65 have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Some scientists say every person over 65 has OA; it’s just more obvious in some cases than in others. According to the same statistics, only 2% of the US citizens under 45 have osteoarthritis.
Gout has been known for a long time as the “disease of the kings,” as people believed it was caused by the consumption of good food in big quantities, which was something the poor simply couldn’t afford. These days the reason is known for sure – gout has to do with the accumulation of uric acid crystals in a joint. Big toe is the part of the body most commonly affected.
When the proteins break down, uric acid is produced. It usually gets quickly dissolved in the urine and leaves the body. However, some people’s bodies produce the amounts of this acid that is abnormally high. One of the most probable reasons is the genetic predisposition. With higher levels of uric acid being present, the body can’t cope with its excretion, and it stays inside, accumulating in the joints. The crystals of this acid (which is how it is deposited) cause very acute pain when the person is trying to move the joint.
Secondary osteoarthritis is another form of joint arthritis that can be caused by a sudden or a long-term injury of the joint. Here is a list of factors that are likely to contribute to its development:
• Recurring gout or other arthritis types
• Physical injuries
• Stress connected with a particular job (working on the computer, in the construction, etc.)
• Incorrect body posture as a result of body development abnormalities
• Osteoarthritis is a progressive kind of disorder for which no cure has been found. The process cannot be stopped, only slowed down. The ways of slowing down the progress of OA include losing weight, surgery, exercising and the use of alternative methods of treatment.
• Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms can be experienced for some time and then disappear in 15% of all cases. For the remaining 85% RA will progress and become worse. According to the statistics, the life expectancy of people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis is three to seven years less than that of healthy people.
• Osteoarthritis is a progressive disorder without a permanent cure. The rate of progression can sometimes be slowed. Factors that may help in reducing the disorder's progress include weight loss, exercise, surgical treatment and some alternative therapies.
People suffering from the symptoms of arthritis are children and adults, men and women – altogether around 350 million people in the world. About 250 thousand children in the USA are diagnosed with chronic arthritis. Over 60% of all the sufferers are female, and more than half of all sufferers are younger than sixty five.
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