Health Niche

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints, which causes severe pain and swellings in joints, and does not allow easy movement of the joints. 

How is Arthritis caused?

Joints are protected by cartilage, which allows the smooth movement of the joints. When there is breakdown of cartilage, it absorbs shock when joints are moved frequently even while walking. When some cartilage is worn out, without the usual amount of cartilage, the bones rub together, causing enormous pain, swelling, and stiffness. There are a number of different kinds of arthritis which affect different joints of the body such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, viral arthritis, gonococcal arthritis, and tuberculosis arthritis and many more. 

What is Arthritis Education?

Generally, people have a wrong concept that arthritis means simply pain in or around the joints. Once arthritis affects them, there is no cure and one has to live with the pain life long. But the truth is, if arthritis is diagnosed early, it can be treated. 

Arthritis education is creating awareness among individuals, to recognize the signs and symptoms of arthritis, in the early stage, and to address the control and prevention of arthritis. Arthritis Education includes Health care trainings, Public service awareness campaigns, Public service announcements, Community partnership workshop, and Public seminars. 

Why is Arthritis Education Necessary?

• Arthritis Education emphasizes early diagnosis and so that treatment can be managed in a proper way.
• It focuses on women, as they are at high risk of developing arthritis.
• It educates patients about the techniques of pain management.
• It informs the people the strategies and tools necessary to make daily decisions to cope up with the disease.
• It helps to maintain the psychological well being of the patients with arthritis.
• Arthritis education also helps the patients to maintain and improve strength, flexibility and endurance by training the patients to do appropriate exercises.
• It guides the patients about the correct and required medications.
• Arthritis education also prepares the patients to be out of depressions, frustration, and to tackle disease related problems.
• It also helps the arthritis patients to select the right diet and guide them for a healthy life.
• Arthritis education programs build the participants’ confidence in their ability to live a normal active life and manage their health.
• Arthritis education programs give a clear picture that most of the cases are not preventable.
• People are aware that over weight is one of the factors that cause arthritis and cutting down of weight can cut half the risk for developing arthritis through arthritis education program.
• There are some health foundations, which support arthritis education, provide free information about the types of surgery available for the arthritis which can give significant pain relief and restore health and physical function.
• These foundations also suggest places and weather, which support arthritis patients to make the patients feel better.
• Some Arthritis education program also keeps a record of the referral list of qualified, specialised physicians who can treat arthritis all over the world.
• Even some foundations provide general information about generally approved prescribed medications.

There are so many arthritis education programs, which are easy to register. Undergo training and to get informed. If people are aware of these programs, it may help in the early diagnosing and treatment of arthritis.

There are many types of arthritis like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid, juvenile etc depending on the part of the body affected. Though degenerative change in joints is the first step in prevention of arthritis, it is true that the exact cause of this condition remains a mystery to the researchers. Apart from that, it is important that diagnosis is done at the early stages, so that it is helpful in the treatment and thereby, the prevention of arthritis to trouble an individual for the remaining years of life.  

There are many reasons for becoming the victim of arthritis. One of them is lack of physical exercise. Regular mild yet effective exercises for the maintenance of bones, joints, and muscles should be the part of one’s routine.  

The prevention of arthritis can be done by following a balanced diet and keeping the body fit. It is highly recommended to avoid consuming junk food, carbonated drinks, cigarettes or alcohol, or skipping regular meals. It is also essential for an individual to sleep at least 6 hours per day. Moreover, there are high chances for obesity to cause arthritis. Good eating habits and health consciousness also would do wonders in the prevention of arthritis.  

It is always better to avoid high calorie food like butter, cheese, potatoes, burgers, pizzas etc after the age of forty for the prevention of arthritis, though arthritis may occur to a person of any age. Also, it is believed that green tea helps in prevention of arthritis. However, if the person is already suffering from it, it helps in reducing the inflammation in the joints and thereby slows down the cartilage breakdown.   

It is found breastfeeding is not only good for the babies but also for the mothers, as it helps in the prevention of rheumatoid arthritis. Mothers who breast feed the infants for at least 24 months reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis by at least 50 percent. Therefore, for the prevention of arthritis in the later stage, women can nurse their babies.  

The studies show that women with irregular menstrual cycles caused by hypothyroidism and hormonal imbalance have the risk of getting affected with rheumatoid arthritis. For the prevention of arthritis, it is important to correct these root causes immediately.  

Prevention of stress on the joints can help in the prevention of arthritis. Avoid exercises that can cause ligament tears or muscle strains or injuries on bones or joints. This factor would also help in the prevention of arthritis. However, it is quite important to put in a habit of regular exercise, as it helps in slowing the progress of disabilities to a greater extent.  

Prevention of osteoarthritis is possible; however, it is not possible to avoid rheumatoid arthritis, as the exact reasons for its occurrence have not been found out. It is important that measures for the prevention of arthritis be taken seriously, as the treatment of arthritis can cure only the symptoms and the pain not arthritis itself. Prevention of arthritis will indirectly help an individual from becoming totally dependant and a cripple.

Arthritis is a disorder with more than 100 forms. This number doesn’t stop there, it is still growing. Arthritis varies from person to person if you are having too much wear and tear in your cartilage it is known as osteoarthritis and if the reason for your joint pain is inflammation it is called as rheumatoid arthritis. 

Since the number of types of Arthritis is so varied the Arthritis treatment is also varied. It is not advisable to start taking Arthritis drugs by yourself. There are many over the counter arthritis medications which are available. Before taking any sort of medication, first and foremost you should go to a registered medical practitioner and have a thorough check up. Only after this is done, will the doctor be bale to conclude what type of Arthritis do you have and then he will suggest what course of arthritis treatment you should opt for. 

Broadly Arthritis can be classified into three categories, namely Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis and Juvenile Arthritis. A quick glance of the number of people affected with Arthritis only in America is shocking.  Over 2.1 millions American have rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis is custom made treatment. Arthritis treatment in these cases is done according to the individual, their level of Arthritis, their other medical condition and their lifestyle. Only after keeping all this in mind is the arthritis drug to be given decided on.  

The arthritis medications prescribed are for various purposes, some being slowing down or putting a stop to the damage of the joints, reducing and then gradually relieving the pain, decreasing the inflammation and then your general well being. For treatment of arthritis (rheumatoid) a number of arthritis drugs can be prescribed like: - Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), Biologic Response Modifiers, Glucocorticoids or Prednisone, Analgesic Drugs, Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs). You can also go for therapies like Protein-A Immuoadsorption Therapy. Some of the other serious forms of surgery for Arthritis treatment are surgery, joint replacement surgery, Arthrodesis, Arthroscopic surgery, synovectomy and osteotomy.  

The next in the arthritis category is Osteoarthritis. An estimated 21 million    number of Americans suffer from this disorder. Arthritis treatments are on for many people but then there are many people who don’t even know they have Arthritis. A doctor’s visit for a complete check up once in a year from head to toe is a must. You would then know if you have arthritis trouble and need any form of arthritis treatment.  

Taking Arthritis medications alone will not help you. As Arthritis treatments suggest you will have to maintain a healthy lifestyle, beat stress, avoid depressions, avoid any further joint damage and create the proper balance between work and rest. 

For treatment of Arthritis, you will have to keep a regular fitness regime, exercise, eat healthy food, keep the weight down, take Arthritis medications properly and regularly and protect your knees and go for physical or some doctors suggest occupational therapy. 

Doctors prescribe various Arthritis drugs, some of which are Injectable glucocorticoids, Analgesics, Viscosupplements, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Topical Analgesics, Cox-2 Drugs etc.  

Then treatments for Arthritis at higher degrees can be done by various surgeries as mentioned above in the rheumatoid arthritis cases. 

The last form of Arthritis is Juvenile Arthritis. There are 300,000 plus American children who require Arthritis treatment. It is also known as Juvenile rheumatoid Arthritis. 

Arthritis medicine for the kids is in plenty.  A lot of care is taken before prescribing a single Arthritis drug as the child’s general health and immune system should not get affected. Arthritis medicine like: - Slow Acting Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, NSAIDs, Hydroxychloroquine, Aspirin, Penicillamine, Sulfasalazine, Gold Compounds, Analgesics, Glucocorticoid Drugs, Methotrexate, Cyclophosphamide etc. 

Apart from this arthritis treatment is done by giving them recreational activities, making them play sports, exercising their bodies, giving them therapeutical exercises to do, splints, eye care, morning stiffness relief, surgery, dental care and diet.

Arthritis treatment can be done only when Arthritis medicine and other factors like exercise, diet, stress management etc work in tandem.  

Arthritis is a condition that affects the joints and soft tissues in a person’s body. Arthritis facts indicate that under the single term arthritis, there are about 120 different diseases covered. The three most prevalent forms of the disease, however, are fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis. As a common affliction, it is important to be aware of the arthritis facts to combat the disease. 

Fibromyalgia affects the tissues that support the bones and help in their movement. It causes widespread pain in the body, and localized tender spots in muscles and tendons. The most severely affected parts are the neck, spine, shoulders and hips. The common symptoms for fibromyalgia are tiredness, lack of concentration and disturbed sleep patterns. 

Rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of the joints. It is an inflammatory illness that causes the body’s immune system to target its own tissue. Prolonged inflammation of the joint causes loss of function of deformity of the joint. The common symptoms of this illness are fatigue, fever and an ill feeling. 

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that affects the bones. It causes the destruction of cartilage at the ends of the bones, causing more wear and tear of the bones, and subsequent destruction. Arthritis facts often associate this disease with women mostly, but it can affect men as well. 

Other arthritic diseases are carpal tunnel syndrome, psoriatic arthritis, juvenile arthritis, gout and ankylosing spondylitis. Arthritis facts are not very well known to people, which make it difficult for people to understand their condition. It is important that the following arthritis facts be known, so as to combat the debilitating effect of arthritis. 

Symptoms of arthritis

The most common and noticeable symptoms of arthritis are pain, swelling of the joints or restricted mobility in joints. There are other unexplained symptoms which one may not associate with arthritis right away. Arthritis facts often do not correspond with such symptoms as fever, fatigue, and weight loss. In some kinds of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, joints can become red, warm, swollen and painful. 

People at risk

Arthritis can affect people in any age group, including children, who may be diagnosed with juvenile arthritis. However, there are some people, who are at a higher risk than others. 

Men and women who are over the age of 45 are prone to arthritis. Women who are above the age of 15 are also susceptible to arthritis. Arthritis facts often make note of studies which show that people with a family history of arthritis are more likely to develop the disease than those who have no history of the disease. These factors are called non-modifiable risk factors as they cannot be prevented or changed. 

There are other factors that can be controlled or prevented through a controlled regimen in a person’s lifestyle. These include obesity, past injuries, and lifestyles which involve continual strain on the joints. 

Arthritis Diagnosis

Arthritis is diagnosed based on a study of the patient’s symptoms, family history, medical records, physical tests and x-rays. Arthritis facts, if known to the patient, will ensure that he requests a medical check-up before the disease affects him or her severely. 

Arthritis Management

Though arthritis facts often project it as a debilitating disease, proper management combined with physiotherapy can help afflicted people live healthy and independent lives. Exercise is of primary importance followed by sessions with rheumatologist or an arthritis specialist in cases of arthritis that require specialized drug therapy. Patients should keep themselves updated with information about arthritis; facts about the disease will help them to deal with their condition better..  

Also, patients should take care to not over-exert their joints to prevent fatigue and wear and tear of already abused joints. If necessary, assistive devices should be used to reduce stress on frequently used joints.  

Most importantly, early diagnosis and proper treatment are imperative to retain an independent life even after being subject to the disabling nature of arthritis. Regular check-ups and thorough investigation into any suspicious swelling of the joints must be followed. If these pointers are followed and arthritis facts are kept in mind, then there is no reason that arthritis should end a person’s active lifestyle

The word arthritis is derived from the Greek words arthro, which means joints and –itis, which means inflammation. Arthritis is the inflammation in the joints of the body. Mostly arthritis is found in humans above the age of 55. The history of arthritis traces back to centuries. It is one of the oldest diseases in the universe. Moreover, the history of arthritis makes an interesting study.  

In 1890, the European doctors found that by applying quinine, the lesion caused by the lupus reduced significantly. In 1940, the soldiers in the tropics used the drug chloroquine to reduce the symptoms of arthritis. Finally in 1999, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved Cox-2 inhibitors to cure arthritis without much stomach disorder. This has become a great boon for the arthritis patients.  

The history of arthritis includes the fact that there are many kinds of arthritis. They are the Rheumatoid Arthritis, the Psoriatic Arthritis, the Septic Arthritis, the Gouty Arthritis and the most common arthritis which is the Osteoarthritis. The common meaning of arthritis is pain, and mostly this pain differs from arthritis to arthritis and the location.  The osteoarthritis is worse at nights, whereas, the Rheumatoid Arthritis is worse in the mornings. 

The history of Osteoarthritis was found in the dinosaurs, whereas the first trace of human arthritis refers back to 4500 BC. Some of the evidence of arthritis throughout History is found in Otzi, a mummy, found along the border of Italy and Austria to the Egyptian mummies circa 2590 BC.  The arthritis care reaches its history of 60 years. 

The most important step in diagnosing the Rheumatoid Arthritis is the medical history as well as physical examination which can evaluate the pain and the stiffness. 

The history of the Gout Arthritis is a century old.  It was associated with “high living and superior social status” and “Longevity.” Prominent men like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were gout sufferers. In 1861, the gout is referred to a peculiar disease which is similar to rheumatism, affecting the joints especially at the foot and toes.  

Modern theory says that by immersing the affected part in cold water for few minutes and done frequently reduces the pain in gout arthritis.  

Arthritis is known to affect the older generation and kids as well. Pain is not the symptom in all cases at times; people who have arthritis just stop using that particular limb. It is only as late as the nineteenth century that Arthritis was given a separate identity, till then it was believed to be a side effect of old age and other diseases. 

It was believed that Arthritis was caused by the deficiency of certain minerals and vitamins. Then, there was a belief that this was only a problem which aroused due to stress caused by the environment or by the individual’s psychology.  

Rothschild was a scientist who believed that the history of arthritis is 4000 years old and started in the area of the Tennessee Indians. He believes that it spread from there. Now, it is a known fact that Arthritis is inflammation of the joints and there are cures for it and still a lot of research is being done on the topics.

After a peaceful sleep, when you get up you may feel a bit stiff.  If you are sitting in a computer table for a long time, or you are doing gardening work for sometime and when you get up you may feel a bit stiff. Sometimes, when you sneeze, you feel an occasional discomfort all over the body. These are all mild occasional pains, whereas arthritis goes beyond this pain. 

Arthritis information shows that it includes a number of diseases that leads to inflammation, pain and stiffness, primarily in the joints and the connecting tissues.  The supporting structures for the joints are called connecting tissues. Examples are the muscles, cartilage, ligaments and tendons. About arthritis, there are more than six kinds mostly it is chronic, but some like the gout or intermittent. With the actual joint inflammation it causes swelling and warmth, whereas in cartilage lining, the joint wears out but the inflammation is minor. 

Before knowing some arthritis information, you should know what is a joint and what are the activities done by tendon, ligament and cartilage. The ends of the bones meet at a joint. Cartilage is a layer of smooth pliable tissue. Tendons connect muscles to bones.  Ligaments connect and support bones to keep them in proper alignment. The joints work like a machine and the synovial fluid produced by the inner lining helps in lubricating and provides nutrients. 

When you are injured or infected, the body reacts in a natural way like swelling, pain, warmth and redness. Inflammation is not only the result of injury. Sometimes, it perpetuates injury and continues for a very long time. Then, it becomes a severe arthritis and it spreads to the other parts of the body.   

Stiffness, rigidity, tissue damage, and pain are the symptoms of arthritis and it occurs, when the joint is moved. As the mobility decreases, the muscles around the bone weaken, the cartilage breaks down and the bones go a little out of shape. There are more than 100 kinds of arthritis and it differs from individual to individual. 

Limited joint function or increase pain in movement, fatigue and loss of appetite are other symptoms. The signs about arthritis are joint swelling, joint redness, joint warmth deformity and loss of joint motion. 

Once you feel a terrible pain, you must consult a health care professional, who may ask you to undergo a thorough checkup and many tests, like the blood test, urine test etc. In severe cases, you may be asked to take X-rays and imaging procedures like the CT (Computed Tomography) or MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). 

If there is only ligament, tissue or the tendon swells the pain will be in the joint. Muscle strain adds more pain, and if there is a joint damage, then the normal activities like getting out of bed, or holding a pencil also become very painful. 

You should also be aware of this arthritis information also. The level of pain and discomfort varies from person to person. Emotional stress and distress can intensify sensation of pain. There are many ways to treat this disease. They are homeopathy, vitamins and fish oils, herbal remedies, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Magnet Therapy, Diet Therapy, self control and massage etc.  

Valuable arthritis information is surgery is not a must, but people in the sixties do go for hip replacement surgery or knee replacement surgery.