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 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