What is Arthritis - Symptoms, Causes, Prevention and Care?

Arthritis affects joints and muscles. The word arthritis is derived from two Greek works 'arthron' which means joint and 'itis' which means inflammation. The disease takes heavy toll on the quality of life of the affected person. There are more than a 100 conditions of joints and muscles that can be classified as arthritis. The disease is quite common with some estimations claiming that 1 out of 4 people get affected by the same. Although the condition is more prevalent in older people but it can also affect young adults and children too. Arthritis causes pain in joints and surrounding tissues, this in turn hampers mobility and in fact the person’s ability to accomplish day to day tasks.

What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is mostly inflammation of joints, joint pain, swelling and stiffness. There are various types of arthritis, some common types being rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's disease, pseudo-gout, gout, systemic lupus erythematosus, fibromyalgia and more. The two most common types of arthritis are Rheumatoid arthritis and Osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is believed to be chronic in nature, it happens when the natural defence mechanism of the body goes haywire and starts attacking the body itself leading to joint destruction. Osteoarthritis on the other hand is caused due to wear and tear, thus the condition is also known as degenerative osteoarthritis.

Arthritis Symptoms and Causes

It is very important that diagnosis happens as early as possible in case of arthritis. Ignoring the disease can result in irreparable damage to the joint and hamper even basic mobility in the long run. Early symptoms of arthritis can be weakness, fatigue and pain which generally start from hands and knuckles. Later the symptoms can grow in to persistent joint pains, fever, weight-loss, redness, swelling and stiffness of the joints and more. Arthritis is diagnosed mostly through blood test and magnesium deficiency assessment. The exact cause of some types of arthritis such as Rheumatoid arthritis is still unknown but researchers believe that mostly genetics is the cause of the said disease.

Prevention and Treatment of Arthritis
Although there may be no sure shot way to prevent arthritis but there are surely some steps that one can take to at least reduce the risk. The first being, if you have healthy joints now then take care of them. If you are obese or overweight loose the excess weight. Consume a balanced and healthy diet with appropriate amount of calcium intake. Exercise regularly and avoid alcohol, smoking and sugar especially if one belongs to the high risk group such as women with a history of arthritis in the family. Treatment options for arthritis include medication, joint surgery and natural arthritis treatments through supplements and therapies.

Living with Arthritis
Firstly it is recommended for a person suffering from arthritis to know as much about the condition as possible. This can be done by reading about the disease, about the dos and don’ts and speaking with the doctor about any query the individual may have about the disease. Second most important factor is to protect and care for the joints; this will help against any further damage. Keeping a positive outlook and an active lifestyle will also go a long way in fighting the disease. Improve endurance, strength and blood circulation through therapy and other physical activities. Proper diet will health intake of calcium and weight reduction will also provide relief. Also small things such as proper posture, comfortable shoes and furniture can also help.