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.
Medications, physical therapy, or sometimes surgery helps reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
Very common
More than 3 million cases per year in US
Treatment from medical professional advised
Requires a medical diagnosis
Requires lab test or imaging
More common in females
Can last several years or be lifelong
Emergency room visit recommended in severe cases
Family history may increase likelihood
Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more of your joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis causes cartilage — the hard, slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they form a joint — to break down. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the immune system attacks the joints, beginning with the lining of joints.
Uric acid crystals, which form when there’s too much uric acid in your blood, can cause gout. Infections or underlying disease, such as psoriasis or lupus, can cause other types of arthritis.
Treatments vary depending on the type of arthritis. The main goals of arthritis treatments are to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
Symptoms vary depending on the type of arthritis. The most common symptoms in the initial stages are:
- Joint pain- knee or hip pain
- Swelling
- Redness in the joints
- Loss of appetite
- Tenderness in joints
- Fever
Arthritis is caused due many reasons. The common causes are:
- Wear and tear of cartilage in joints
- Metabolic abnormalities
- Infection (Bacterial or Viral)
- Autoimmune disease
- Injury
- Genetic factors
Arthritis cannot always be prevented. The risk of arthritis can be reduced by altering eating habits and proper exercise.
If arthritis is left untreated, it can lead to these serious complications:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Joint damage: Joint deformities, damage to nearby tendon, etc
- Widespread inflammation: Inflammation can spread to other parts of the body like lungs, heart, and eyes
- Cardiovascular damage: People with rheumatoid arthritis are at higher risk of developing cardio vascular disease
Doctors will examine joint movements. Blood test and imaging tests help in diagnosing the severity of inflammation and check the progression of disease.
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