Arthritis is the inflammation of your joints. The two most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. There are many forms of arthritis today. In the U.S. it is the most chronic illness.
The main symptoms of are joint pain and stiffness. Symptoms include: pain, stiffness, swelling, redness, and decreased range of motion. The symptoms of arthritis can actually affect other organs in the body such as the lungs, heart, and kidneys.
Arthritis can damage joints in different ways. Osteoarthritis is the wear and tear to cartilage can result in bone grinding directly in bone, which causes pain and restricted movement. There is rheumatoid arthritis. The body’s immune system attacks joints and inflames the synovium, causing swelling, redness, and pain. The disease can eventually destroy cartilage and bone within the joint.
It is classified as a rheumatic disease. These are conditions that are different individual illnesses, with differing features, treatments, complications, and prognoses. They have the tendency to affect joints, muscles, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons. Many have the potential to affect other internal body areas.
Arthritis sufferers include men and women, children and adults. Approximately 350 million people worldwide have arthritis. Nearly 40 million people in the United States are affected by arthritis, including over a quarter million children! More than 27 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis and approximately 1.3 million suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. Half of the people with arthritis are under the age of sixty five and nearly 60% of Americans that have arthritis are women.
Arthritis can be treated in many forms. It depends on what type you have. Treatments that are available are physical therapy, splinting, cold pack application, anti inflammation medicine, and surgical operations.