Most
all of us will suffer from arthritis at one point in our lives. Learn
more about arthritis so that you can deal with it in its early stages.
This will lessen the pain that you will suffer in the future.
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, i.e. 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.
