Arthritis: Aging, Injuries increase risk
Arthritis is a common condition that causes pain and inflammation in joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age.
Uric acid crystals, which form when there's too much uric acid in blood, can cause gout. Infections or underlying disease, such as psoriasis or lupus, can cause other types of arthritis.
The most common signs and symptoms of arthritis involve the joints. Depending on the type of arthritis, the signs and symptoms may also include swelling, redness and decreased range of motion.
Two main types of arthritis -- osteoarthritis and rheumatoid -- damage joints in different ways.
Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, involves damage to a joint's cartilage -- the hard, slick coating on the ends of bones where they form a joint. Cartilage cushions the ends of the bones and allows nearly frictionless joint motion, but enough damage can result in bone grinding directly on bone, which causes pain and restricted movement. This wear and tear can occur over many years, or it can be hastened by a joint injury or infection.
Osteoarthritis also causes changes in the bones and deterioration of the connective tissues that attach muscle to bone and hold the joint together. If cartilage in a joint is severely damaged, the joint lining may become inflamed and swollen.
In rheumatoid arthritis, the body's immune system attacks the lining of the joint capsule, a tough membrane that encloses all the joint parts. This lining (synovial membrane) becomes inflamed and swollen. The process can eventually destroy cartilage and bone within the joint.
Some types of arthritis are hereditary, so one may be more likely to develop arthritis if parents or siblings have it.
Women are more likely than men to develop rheumatoid arthritis.
People who have injured a joint are more likely to eventually develop arthritis in that joint.
Carrying excess weight puts stress on joints, particularly knees, hips and spine. People with obesity have a higher risk of developing arthritis.
Severe arthritis, particularly if it affects hands or arms, can make it difficult for the patients to do daily tasks. In some cases, joints may gradually lose their alignment and shape.
Treatment of arthritis can include rest, occupational or physical therapy, hot or cold compresses, joint protection, exercise, drugs, and sometimes surgery to correct joint damage.
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