Benefits, Risks And More – Forbes Health

Arthritis is the acute or power irritation of joints. Though generally understood to be a singular situation, arthritis is a time period used to reference joint ache and joint illness. In truth, there are greater than 100 various kinds of arthritis and associated situations, corresponding to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, amongst others. Symptoms embrace ache and stiffness within the joints, swelling, decreased vary of movement, joint deformities and different associated situations.

Causes for arthritis fluctuate relying on the person, however can embrace:

• An autoimmune illness
• A beforehand injured joint that develops post-traumatic arthritis later in life
• Being obese

Types of Arthritis

While there are numerous forms of arthritis, two of the commonest types are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

“The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which develops over time and can intensify with age,” says Thomas Lazoff, M.D., a double board licensed doctor at Physical Medicine Consultants in Fort Wayne, Indiana. OA impacts greater than 32.5 million adults within the United States, in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

OA impacts your entire joint, together with the bone, cartilage, ligaments, fats, and the tissues lining the joint, says Dr. Lazoff. Symptoms of OA can embrace joint stiffness, redness, and decreased movement within the palms, knees, hips, decrease again and neck.

“This form of arthritis causes some element of swelling and tenderness of one or more joints,” he provides, noting joint ache could be power and flare up at instances.

Age, gender, overuse of the identical joints, genetics, former accidents and affected by weight problems can all contribute to the onset of OA. The situation is extra widespread in folks over 50 years previous and tends to happen in ladies greater than males.

“Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease which typically attacks the joints of the body,” says Dr. Lazoff. Individuals dwelling with RA typically expertise stiffness, swelling and ache within the joints. Symptoms of an RA flare can final for intensive intervals of time and will embrace:

• Low grade fever
• Fatigue
• Joint stiffness, tenderness or swelling that lasts for six weeks or extra
• Joint stiffness that happens within the morning and lasts for longer than half-hour

Symptoms occurring in a number of joints within the physique, or signs occurring in the identical joints bilaterally might also be a sign of RA.

While the reason for RA is unknown, a genetic element is suspected to play a component within the  illness, particularly when triggered by way of life and environmental elements. Women usually tend to develop RA than males, and girls who’ve by no means given start are considered at greater threat, in line with the CDC.