What Is Arthritis? Know About Its Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options
Almost all of us have experienced some kind of medical problem in our lives. Many of them take place for a shorter period and settle automatically or by some measures. But, some diseases can be serious and may have long-lasting effects. Here we are talking about arthritis that is supposed to be a terrible condition, especially for our joints. It is said to be a joint inflammation disease that can affect one or more joints. A joint proves to be the part where two bones meet. Men, women, children, or adults, everyone can suffer from this kind of disease.
Arthritis Causes
There is a firm and flexible
tissue present in our joints known as cartilage. It is responsible to safeguard
the joints. When a person moves or puts stress on the joints, cartilage absorbs
the created pressure and shock. When there is a decline in the ordinary amount
of cartilage, it can give rise to arthritis. Two main causes of arthritis are
osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
1. Osteoarthritis involves wear
and tear damage to the cartilage. This condition can take place due to an
injury or infection. Even if someone has a family history, a person may have
elevated chances of developing osteoarthritis or OA.
2. The second main cause of
arthritis, i.e., rheumatoid arthritis is found when the immune system of a body
attacks its own tissues of the body. Such attacks influence the synovium which
stands as soft tissue in the joints. The job role of the synovium is to create
a fluid that lubricates the joints and nourishes the cartilage.
Arthritis Symptoms
Arthritis severely impacts the
condition of our joints. Over 100 kinds of arthritis are there to observe. You
have read about osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Some other kinds of
arthritis include ankylosing spondylitis, gout, reactive arthritis, septic
arthritis, thumb arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and psoriatic
arthritis.
Based on the type, a person will face the symptoms of arthritis. Still, some of the well-known symptoms of arthritis include pain, redness, stiffness, limited range of motion, and swelling.
* If someone is investigated
with arthritis in the knee joint, there can be harm to the cartilage and
limited movement due to joint damage.
* In case of arthritis in
weight-bearing joints, a person can find troubles in walking along with pain.
* Stiffness, being one of the
major symptoms of arthritis, can lead to poor function.
Even in some cases, there can
be a presence of some other symptoms like weight loss, fatigue, swollen lymph
nodes, fever, etc.
Arthritis Treatment
You need to recognize one thing
very clear about arthritis that it can't be cured completely. The major
objective behind arthritis treatment is to control pain, improve or maintain
function, and lessen down joint damage. A rheumatologist is an expert
professional to look after cases of arthritis. He can assist the patient with
different measures.
For example, medicines can be
one of the initial steps for arthritis treatment. This may include analgesics,
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, biologics, corticosteroids,
counterirritants, or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. After that,
physical therapies can also be an effective option in such cases. The surgeon
may also guide the patient to cut down extra weight from the body.
Even if such measures don't
work for the patient and he still faces problems regarding pain and restricted
motion, surgery may be implemented. This can be in the form of joint
replacement surgery.
Tips to Follow
1. Make sure to take a balanced
and healthful diet during arthritis.
2. Additionally, you need to
focus on performing appropriate exercises on a regular basis. You can go for
exercises that help to make the joints stronger.
3. While following such healthy
activities, you need to stay away from bad lifestyle habits like smoking and
intake of alcohol.
4. Make sure to eat food items
that involve some healthy nutrients. For example, you can go for fruits and
vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, fish, whole grains, and olive oil.
Make sure to care for your
joints. A person may find him in an uncomfortable state once influenced by
arthritis. So, If you feel something wrong with joints like pain or problems in
their functioning, make sure to consult an expert professional.
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