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Arthritis Facts
Arthritis is a big issue !
Look at some introductory facts ...
Referred to as the nation’s number one crippling disease and the most common chronic disease in people over 40, arthritis affects more than 40 million Americans.
And this figure is expected to rise to 60 million by 2020, according to the Center for Disease Control.
Arthritis generally afflicts people between the ages of 20 and 50, but can affect all ages, even infants. The average age of onset is 47 and about three out of every five people with arthritis are under 65 years of age.
Arthritic expenditures for just one person due to lost wages, medical treatment and other related expenses can come to more than $150,000 in his or her lifetime.
And doctors believe there are over 100 different forms of arthritis ...
... all sharing one main characteristic ==> ALL forms cause joint inflammation.
What Causes Arthritis ?
Joints can handle some heavy pressure ...
For example, knees handle a force of three to four times a person’s total body weight on average just taking a walk. The force of a deep knee bend during a squat can increase to nine times the body weight.
So just imagine multiplying weight of more than 150 pounds times a minimum of three or four, and then even more ...
That can sure add up to a lot of heavy work on knee joints over time !
Now for the science of this scenario ...
Where two bones meet, called the joint, the bone ends are covered with cartilage, also known as gristle. This cartilage is sturdy, elastic and spongy or compressible, and keeps the bones from moving against each other at the joint. The cells of this cartilage, called chondrocytes, are thought to be the longest living cells of the body.
Surrounding the bones and cartilage is strong, fibrous capsule lined with synovium, a thin membrane that lubricates the joint area with fluid. The end result is less friction or smoother rubbing together of the bones. This fluid also feeds the cartilage cells, keeping them healthy, and is “pumped” into them during joint movement.
Thus lack of movement (activity / exercise) can be unhealthy
Other parts of the body features involved with this arthritic scenario include:
Muscles, attached to bones with tendons and ligaments, move bones by contracting.
They also cushion movement, absorbing impact or shock.
Throughout the muscle and tendon areas are bursae or sacs filled with fluid. These also help cushion movement. And throughout all the coordination of these parts during movement, the brain is a part. The brain communicates via nerves throughout the body, in particular the muscles for this scenario, to prepare joints for activity.
Ten Most Common Causes of Arthritis
The exact science of what actually causes arthritis is still being researched.
For most of the 100-plus forms of arthritis, the causes are unknown.
Howevever, some of the most common causes are:
Arthritic pain is caused when the joints become inflamed ...
Inflammation of the Joints
Arthritic joints can be affected with inflammation when bacteria or a virus (or other undesirable element) enters the joint area or when an injury occurs.
What happens is when foreign matter enters this area or the area sustains injury, white blood cells, antibodies and other natural “fighting” mechanisms automatically kick in internally to help.
These fighters cause swelling, redness and heat as the body fluid moves around.
Symptoms of inflammation, one of the uncomfortable issues associated with arthritis, are:
How Many Types of Arthritis Are There ?
Although there are over 100 types / variants of arthritis, the most comon types are:
Rheumatoid Arthritis - Refers to the body’s immune system attacking joint tissue. Still not fully understood in the medical community, this condition most often starts in a person’s hands, wrists and feet. Then it advances to shoulders, elbows and hips.
Osteoarthritis - When joints are overused and misused, the results can be OA. What happens is that the cushioning cartilage that protects the joint breaks down, resulting in the bones rubbing together. This generally happens in the knees, but can be found in the hips, spine and hands often, too.
Fibromyalgia - According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, author of “The Total Health Program,” nine of ten sufferers of fibromyalgia are female, and 76% of those who followed suggested dietary rules experienced a significant reduction in pain. The thing to keep in mind with fibromyalgia is that, unlike the other common arthritis ailments, it is more of a syndrome than a disease, and much of it can be reversed.
Gout - This is a painful affliction mainly for men, about one million of them in the United States alone. Uric acid builds up, due to an internal chemical malfunction, forms crystals that get stuck in a joint, generally the big toe, and become inflamed.
Psoriatic Arthritis - Like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis is thought to be caused by a malfunctioning immune system. Psoriatic arthritis is usually milder than rheumatoid arthritis, but some patients with psoriatic arthritis have as severe a disease as patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosis - (SLE) This form of arthritis mainly affects women. It develops in the skin, internal organs and joints.
Ankylosing Spondylitis - This form of arthritis affects the spine and can also affect the ankles, knees, lungs, heart, shoulders and eyes.
Where Do People Experience Arthritis Pain ?
Basically, any part of the body where you have joints and inflammation can occur ...
i.e Knees, wrists, hands, fingers, feet, toes, ankles, legs, hips, arms, shoulders, back, spine and neck.
Some forms of arthritis can even affect your eyes, heart and lungs.
As you can see, arthritis can affect most parts of the body and arthritis pain can cause a lot of discomfort if left untreated.
What Can be Done for Arthritis Relief ?
Many things ...
For example, weight and nutrition are only a couple of factors that play a role in arthritic pain.
And yet shedding even 10 pounds to relieve weight from knees and finding the right nutritional strategy can help relieve pain a lot.
Ways to Manage Arthritic Pain ...
There are many ways to effectively manage arthritic pain today to find relief.
Available options are:
When arthritis is first suspected, it would be wise to seek a medical opinion first
For more in depth information, check out our following arthritis topics:
To read some of the latest arthritis news items look at our frequently updated arthritis articles.
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