What You Need To Know About Arthritis

Arthritis signals people in a variety of ways Joints might
crack when you suddenly stand up or move Other joints may be
stiff and creak Maybe pain occurs, when you’re trying to open a
jar, or type on your keyboard
Arthritis means “joint inflammation” and has over 100 related
conditions or types of disease Untreated, it can advance,
resulting in joint damage that is difficult to undo or reverse
So early detection and treatment are important
The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA)
and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) Although both have similar
symptoms, both happen for different reasons When joints are
overused and misused, this results in OA What happens is the
cushioning cartilage that protects the joints breaks down,
resulting in bones rubbing together This generally happens in
the knees, but can be found in the hips, spine and hands In RA
the body’s immune system attacks joint tissue Still not fully
understood by doctors, this condition often starts in a person’s
hands, wrists and feet Then it advances to shoulders, elbows
and hips
Similar symptoms include pain, stiffness, fatigue, weakness,
slight fever and inflamed tissue lumps under the skin And both
OA and RA generally develop symmetrically, ie affecting the
same joints on both the left and right sides of the body
A difference in OA and RA is in the way you swell With RA,
people report “soft and squishy” swelling While with OA, people
report “hard and bony” swelling
Another difference is you are likely to develop RA if a sibling
or parent had it If you have a history of joint damage, either
an injury or chronic strain, you run a higher risk for
developing OA
There is no specific age for arthritis sufferers While it can
affect every age group, it seems to occur more frequently on
those over 45 years
And while neither gender is immune, a reported 74 percent of OA
cases and a slightly lower percentage of RA cases occur with
women
People with excess weight tend to develop OA, especially in the
knees when reaching over 45 years However, losing weight can
turn the odds around almost by half Regular activity combined
with exercise also reduces risk of OA
Although there are no cure-alls for arthritis, there are a
variety of pain relief treatment strategies Aside from
medications, remedies, replacement alternatives and other
helpful treatment options and alternatives, the five main
arthritis relief aids are gentle exercise, good nutrition,
special herbal and other nutrients, a positive attitude and rest
Today, only a small percentage of those afflicted with arthritis
become crippled And most never need canes, wheelchairs, or
other ambulatory devices
If you suspect you may have arthritis, it is advisable to seek
medical advice from your doctor or alternative practitioner
Look to reduce pain and inflammation using natural remedies
before you decide on using doctor prescribed drugs

Tags | chronic, elbows, immune, inflamed, lumps, osteoarthritis, reasons, result, strain, sufferers, weight