| What is arthritis? | | | | lining the joint). It usually causes severe joint pain, loss |
| Arthritis is a chronic disease that comes with pain and | | | | of joint function, stiffness, swelling and sometimes |
| loss of movement of the joints. It is a joint disorder | | | | leads to permanent deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis can |
| caused by disease, infection, anomalies and other | | | | be difficult to diagnose early because the symptoms |
| factors that affect the everyday activities. Arthritis | | | | can be deceptive. As a result no single test can |
| affects the people of all ages, including children and | | | | conclusively establish its correct diagnosis. It is |
| young adults but generally people over 50years show | | | | responsible for arthritis pain and inflammation joints that |
| more signs of arthritis because the joint naturally | | | | affects most joints of the body like fingers, wrists, |
| degrades overtime. Arthritis is not a single disease, but | | | | kneels and toes. |
| a term that covers over 100diseases and medical | | | | Treatment of Arthritis |
| conditions that can affect many parts of the body. It is | | | | Over the years proper treatment have help to relieve |
| a long term disease that cannot be totally cured but | | | | arthritis symptoms and correct many serious joint |
| can be managed with proper medical care, adequate | | | | problems. Sometimes physical and occupational |
| therapy and by treating its symptoms. | | | | therapy is used to control and maintain joint mobility |
| However, it should be noted that arthritis is associated | | | | and range of motion. The proper kind and amount of |
| with diseases of other tissues and organs in the body | | | | this therapy depends on the underlying cause and |
| and as a result it is considered as one of the major | | | | individual factors. |
| causes of disability in people who are over 50years | | | | Arthritis cure largely depends on the type, the severity |
| and above. In the United States, arthritis is the leading | | | | of the problem and previous response to treatment by |
| cause of disability and researchers claimed that nearly | | | | the patients. As a result, medical supervision is a must |
| 1 in every 5 adults has some form of arthritis. | | | | because arthritis like rheumatoid can be crippling and |
| We have various types of arthritis and for this article l | | | | can affect other organs in the body. Doses of aspirin |
| would like to write on the most common types of | | | | or aspirin-like drugs are common prescription that |
| arthritis and these are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid | | | | effectively reduced arthritis pain and inflammation. In |
| arthritis. | | | | case of severe pains, drugs like DMARDS or |
| Osteoarthritis Arthritis - is a disease that can cause the | | | | SAARDS (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or |
| breakdown of joint tissue which leads to joint pain and | | | | slow-acting antirheumatic drugs) such as anti-malaria |
| stiffness. It is normal inflammatory and at onset is | | | | are administered. |
| subtle and gradually starting from one or few joints. It is | | | | Once again l would like to emphasize that all these |
| also known as degenerative joint disease, resulting | | | | drugs prescribed require close supervision and that |
| from wear and tear of cartilage usually associated | | | | most of them have hazardous effects, for example in |
| with old age. The pressure of gravity causes damage | | | | some patients aspirin interferes with platelet function |
| to the joints and surrounding tissues leading to pain, | | | | and this can cause serious bleeding. |
| tenderness and sometimes swelling at different parts | | | | Finally, in treating arthritis the major concern of the |
| of the body. | | | | doctor is to provide the best treatment that will reduce |
| Rheumatoid arthritis - is a chronic disease potentially | | | | the pains, or further damage to the joints and prevent |
| disabling type of arthritis that occurs when the body's | | | | any permanent deformity. |
| immune system mistakenly attacks the synovium (cell | | | | |