Arthritis - a common disease, proper lifestyle and medication needed

Arthritis is a common disease, particularly for persons above 50 years. Women suffer more from it. Arthritis is a disease that causes damage to one’s joints. Joints are places in the body where two bones meet. In many cases, people develop arthritis after the normal, lifelong wear and tear. In some cases, it happens after an injury. Some of the joints where arthritis is common have been hands and wrists, knees, hips, feet and ankles, shoulders, and lower back. World Health Organization data show that in India, about 9.6% of men and 18% of women aged 60 suffer from arthritis.

There are, mainly, two types of arthritis
Osteoarthritis: This is the most common. It involves wear and tear damage to a joint’s cartilage. Cartilage is a hard, slick coating on the ends of bones where they form a joint. It helps with frictionless joint motion. Its damage can result in bone grinding directly on bone. This causes pain and restricts movements.

Rheumatoid arthritis: TIt happens when the body’s immune system attacks the lining of the joint capsule, a tough membrane that encloses all the joint parts. This lining becomes inflamed and swollen. This process eventually destroys cartilage and bone within the joint.

Symptoms and signs of arthritis
First, stiffness or reduced range of motion, i.e., how far you can move a joint. It causes joint pain. Secondly, swelling or inflammation where skin dislocation, sensitivity to touch around a joint, or a feeling of heat near the joints is experienced.

Some factors that raise the possibility of arthritis
First, tobacco use through smoking or in other ways increases the risk. Secondly, family histories where other members have arthritis are likely to have this. But more physical activity may lessen the possibility. Thirdly, there is the activity level, which means the more one is physically active less is the possibility. Fourthly, having autoimmune diseases or obesity, or any condition that affects one’s joints, increases the risk of developing arthritis. Fifthly, some sections of people have a higher chance of having arthritis. People older than 50, athletes, particularly, who play contact sports, women, and people engaged in sitting work are more prone to suffer from arthritis.

Diagnosis and treatment
Examining body fluids, i.e., blood, urine, or joint fluid, in the laboratory can pinpoint the type of arthritis one has. Additionally, X-rays or CT scans or MRI or ultrasounds technology can determine cartilage loss, bone damage and bone spurs to track progression of the disease. There is no treatment of arthritis. Doctors can manage one’s symptoms only. Doctors prescribe some medicines, physical or occupational therapy or surgery in extreme cases.