What is arthritis?

Arthritis represents a disease that attacks the articulations, making them very painful and rigid, or even deforming them.

Arthritis has different forms. The most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and they occur about three times more often in women then in men. But there are also other forms, such as gout, ankylosing spondylitis and the one that results from infections.

What generates arthritis?

Osteoarthritis implies the breaking down of the cartilage inside the articulations. It has normally a very important role, because it covers the bone ends and allows them to move freely. In case of arthritis, the cartilage becomes fragile, heavy or it even wears away; as a consequence, the bones friction one against another. As a result of the deterioration of the cartilage, irritations and inflammations take place inside the articulations and in some situations spurs appear to increase the inflammation. Osteoarthritis mainly affects the fingers, the hips, the knees and the lower back. Osteoarthritis symptoms show up around the middle age. This disease attacks the majority of people older than 60, but the signs don't always show.

Rheumatoid arthritis attacks the interior of the articulation and is an autoimmune disease. The substance used by the body to fight infection damages its own tissues, generating redness, inflammations, rigidity and deformity. The disease appears in adulthood and damages the articulations of the hands, feet and arms.

Some of the arthritis' symptoms are:

  • - Painful articulations
  • - Inflammations and redness of the articulations
  • - Rigidity and difficulty to move
  • - Deformation of articulations

For some kinds of arthritis, tiredness is also a symptom

Diagnosis

Arthritis is usually diagnosed relying on the medical background and the physical examination, but tests of blood and X-ray can be used

Article Recomandations:

Tests and Exams Required for An Arthritis Diagnosis

The first step in examination focuses on the articulations. Then, because of the large variety of organs attacked by rheumatic disease such as lupus, a complete exam is required, and it may be followed by a series of tests using blood, urine and synovial fluid samples.
Click Here to Read More

Various Pain Relief Treatments For Arthritis

Depending on the type of arthritis there are several treatments that may relieve the pain of the affected people.
Click Here to Read More