Arthritis (Causes, Symptoms and Treatment)

 

Arthritis is a common disorder that normally affects your joints. It causes pain and inflammation,
making it very difficult to move around or keep active.
There are many types of arthritis. Each form causes different symptoms and may need different treatments.
While arthritis usually affects older adults, it can develop in men, women, and children of any age.

Arthritis is most common in the following areas of the body:

•     Feet.
•     Hands.
•     Hips.
•     Knees.
•     Lower back.

Symptoms

The most common signs and symptoms of arthritis involve the joints.
Depending on the type of arthritis, signs and symptoms may include:

•     Pain
•     Stiffness
•     Swelling
•     Redness
•     Decreased range of motion

What are the types of arthritis?

   

Ankylosing spondylitis, or arthritis of the spine (usually your lower back).

   

   Gout is a disease that causes hard crystals of uric acid to form in your joints.

   Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a disorder where the immune system attacks the     
                                                          tissue around joints JA typically affects children 16 or younger.

    Osteoarthritis, also known as “wear and tear” arthritis,
                    develops when joint cartilage breaks down from repeated stress.
                    It’s the most common form of arthritis.

    Psoriatic arthritis is a joint inflammation that develops in people with psoriasis
                       (an autoimmune disorder that causes skin irritation).

    Reactive arthritis is a condition that causes redness and swelling (inflammation)  in                                          various joints in the body, especially the knees, feet, toes, hips, and ankles.

    Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that causes the immune system to
                         attack synovial membranes in your joints.

    Septic arthritis is a painful infection in a joint that can come from germs that travel
                     through your bloodstream from another part of your body.

    Thumb arthritis, occurs when the cartilage in the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint wears      away. Thumb arthritis is common with aging and occurs when cartilage wears away from the
      ends of the bones that form the joint at the base of your thumb.

What Are The Risk Factors Related To Arthritis Include?

    

•     Family History.
•     Age.
•     Previous joint injury.
•     Obesity
•     Your sex.
•     Smoking.

How to treat Diagnosis And Treatment Arthritis.
       
       Diagnosis: Doctors check your joints for swelling and redness during physical exams.
                  And also through lab tests such as,
                 
    Laboratory tests.
    Imaging,(X-rays, Computerized tomography(CT Scan),
            Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), Ultrasound.

     Treatment: Arthritis treatment is mostly focused on relieving symptoms and improving joints      functioning.
               You can try different treatments, or combinations of treatments, to determine what works best for you.
        some arthritis treatments include:
               

•              NSAIDs.
•              Steroids.
•              Counterirritants.
•              Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.
•              Surgery, ( Joint repairs, joint replacements, joint fusion).

 How can I prevent arthritis?

•     Stay away from tobacco products.
•     Doing low-impact, non-weight-bearing exercise.
•     Maintaining a healthy body weight.
•     Reducing your risk of joint injuries.

             

Take Away:

Since a cure has not been found for arthritis, most people with arthritis need to manage it for the rest of their lives.
Your healthcare provider can help you find the right combination of treatments to reduce symptoms.
One of the biggest health risks associated with arthritis is inactivity.
If you become sedentary from joint pain, you may face a greater risk for cancer,
heart disease, diabetes, and other serious conditions

Also Physical therapy also in treating some types of arthritis.
Exercises can improve the range of motion and strengthen the muscles surrounding joints.
In some cases, splints or braces may be needed.