Arthritis
It is a term often used to mean any disorder that affects joints, it also knows as an inflammation of joints and it can affect one joint to multiple joints. This type of pain is commonly known as Arthritis.
Arthritis is very common but is not well understood. “Arthritis” is not a single disease; it is an informal way of referring to joint pain or joint disease.
There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions. People of all ages, sexes, and races can and do have arthritis.
The symptoms of arthritis usually develop over time, but they may also appear suddenly. It is most commonly seen in adults over the age of 65, but it can also develop in children, teens, and younger adults.
It is more common in women than men and in people who are overweight.
In this article, we discuss the causes, symptoms, and risk factors. We also explore how these are identified, treated, and prevented.
Symptoms of Arthritis:
People may experience:
- Pain areas: in the joints, ankle, back, fingers, hands, muscles, neck, or wrist.
- Types: can be intermittent or sharp.
- The Pain circumstances: can occur while sitting.
- Joints: stiffness, tenderness, or swelling.
- Muscular: decreased range of motion, difficulty walking, or muscle weakness.
- Hand: bump on the finger or bony outgrowth in fingers or toes.
- Whole-body: fatigue or malaise.
- Also common: flare, physical deformity, redness, or stiff neck.
Causes of Arthritis:
There is no single cause of all types of arthritis. The cause or causes vary according to the type or form of arthritis. Most types of joint pain are linked to a combination of factors, but some have no obvious cause and appear to be unpredictable in their emergence.
Possible causes may include:
- Injury, leading to degenerative arthritis.
- Abnormal metabolism, leading to gout and pseudogout.
- Inheritance, such as in osteoarthritis.
- Infections, such as in the arthritis of Lyme disease.
- Immune system dysfunction, such as in RA and SLE.
Risk factors for Arthritis include:
1. Family history. Some types of arthritis run in families, so you may be more likely to develop these symptoms if your parents or siblings have the disorder. Your genes can make you more susceptible to environmental factors that may trigger arthritis.
2. Age. The risk of many types of arthritis — including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout — increases with age.
3. Your sex. Women are more likely than men to develop rheumatoid arthritis, while most of the people who have gout, another type of arthritis, are men.
4. Previous joint injury. People who have injured a joint, perhaps while playing a sport, are more likely to eventually develop pain in that joint
How is Arthritis diagnosed?
Seeing your primary care physician is a good first step if you’re unsure who to see for a pain diagnosis. They will perform a physical exam to check for fluid around the joints, warm or red joints, and a limited range of motion in the joints.
Your doctor can refer you to a specialist if needed. Doctors commonly use imaging scans such as X-ray, MRI, and CT scans to produce an image of your bones and cartilage.
This is so they can rule out other causes of your symptoms, such as bone spurs.
Treatment for Arthritis:
Some people find heating pads and ice packs to be soothing. Others use mobility assistance devices, like canes or walkers, to help take the pressure off sore joints.
Improving your joint function is also important. Your doctor may prescribe you a combination of treatment methods to achieve the best results.
Several different types of medication can also work in treatment for arthritis. There are also many medications to treat OA available over the counter or by prescription…
Other options are:-
Surgery to replace your joint with an artificial one may be an option. This form of surgery is most commonly performed to replace hips and knees.
Physical therapy involving exercises that help strengthen the muscles around the affected joint is a core component of arthritis treatment.
Weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight reduce the risk of developing OA and can reduce symptoms if you already have it.
A healthy, balanced diet with appropriate exercise, avoiding smoking, and not drinking excess alcohol can help people with joint pain and maintain their overall health.
Eating a healthy diet is important for weight loss. Choosing a diet with lots of antioxidants, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs, can help reduce inflammation.
Other inflammation-reducing foods include fish and nuts. Regular exercise will keep your joints flexible. Swimming is often a good form of exercise for people with this symptom because it doesn’t put pressure on your joints the way running and walking do.
Staying active is important, but you should also be sure to rest when you need to and avoid overexerting yourself.
Different types of arthritis exist, each with different causes including wear and tear, infections, and underlying diseases. Symptoms include pain, swelling, reduced range of motion, and stiffness. Medication, physiotherapy or sometimes surgery helps reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
Hope you find this article helpful enough. Kindly read our more articles and subscribe to us for staying updated on our all-new articles.
You can also read more health-related articles by subscribing and liking us on Facebook. Feel Free to leave comments below for any suggestions or your views on it.
Hi,Good piece of content need to know more about best medication for joint pains. Thanks
Pingback: How Ayurveda can help in Joint Pains » Prime Health Blog
Pingback: Five Ways Yoga Helps In Arthritis – Prime Health Blog