| Arthritis is a severely debilitating disease. It means | | | | causes it. It is generally symmetrical in nature, that is, |
| "joint inflammation", and more than one hundred | | | | the same joints on both sides of the body get |
| rheumatic diseases are clubbed under the title of | | | | affected. |
| "arthritis". It can affect any body part, even though | | | | Juvenile arthritis, though not as common as the other |
| most commonly afflicting joints. Pain, stiffness and | | | | two types, affects children. It has different |
| swelling of joints are the main symptoms, but arthritis | | | | symptoms and needs to be present for over a |
| can also impact muscles and bones. While generally | | | | month and a half in order to be diagnosed accurately. |
| associated with aging people, this disease can and | | | | All forms of arthritis cause the patient to have |
| does affect people of all ages, including youth and | | | | decreased ability to use the affected joints. Daily |
| children. Treatment is absolutely necessary, because | | | | activities are hampered. But often, more important is |
| if allowed to aggrevate, the disease causes damage | | | | the psychological impact it has on individuals. We quite |
| to joints and organs, which cannot be cured. Its | | | | take for granted the use of all body parts that we |
| incidence is more among women and chances of | | | | are endowed with from birth. The wear and tear |
| occurring increase with age. | | | | caused by pressure, repeated usage or excessive |
| The common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and | | | | weight is not taken into account until arthritis sets in. |
| rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | When it does, it is very difficult for the affected |
| Osteoarthritis occurs in the joints, with the pressure | | | | person to come to terms with the fact that what |
| and wear and tear, usually due to increasing age or | | | | could so far be done effortlessly would now be |
| obsetiy. Since more weight means more pressure on | | | | difficult to do, probably even impossible. |
| joints during day to day functioning, osteoarthritis | | | | An early diagnosis can set in early medication and |
| patients get some relief with shedding of excess | | | | effective treatment. There are different categories |
| weight. Osteoarthritis causes swelling and tenderness | | | | of medications like painkillers, non-steroidal |
| of mainly joints of knees, hips, hands and the spine, | | | | anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids and |
| but may gradually impact the surrounding areas also. | | | | disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Modern |
| Repeated activities involving the same joints also | | | | medicine also advocates alternative therapies like |
| increases the likelihood of osteoarthritis impacting | | | | homeopathy, reiki and yoga. The best way to fight |
| those particular areas. | | | | arthritis is to decide which one suits you the best and |
| Rheumatoid arthritis also has similar symptoms as | | | | stick to a treatment routine. Some topical application |
| those of osteoarthritis, but the cause is different. For | | | | preparations are also available to relieve arthritic joint |
| various unknown reasons, the body itself attacks | | | | pains. One may consider using any of these, after |
| some of the cells lining the joints. It is an autoimmune | | | | prior consultation with a doctor. |
| disease and most often lasts for a long time. The | | | | The ultimate and last resort for combatting arthritis is |
| cause for rheumatoid arthritis is probably genetic, | | | | joint surgery. Doctors may recommend this for a |
| because it is the body's own immune system that | | | | long-suffering patient. |