| Everyone has heard of arthritis. But even among the | | | | stiffness tends to be quite brief and usually lasts only a |
| millions of arthritis sufferers worldwide there is still a lot | | | | few minutes. |
| of confusion about the type of arthritis they suffer. For | | | | Here are other ways to differentiate rheumatoid |
| the majority of people it comes down to two types - | | | | arthritis from osteoarthritis. All of the symptoms listed |
| rheumatoid arthritis, which is an inflammatory condition, | | | | below are classic signs of rheumatoid arthritis and if |
| and osteoarthritis, a "wear-and-tear" type of arthritis | | | | you suffer from any of them then it is almost certain |
| that mainly occurs as you get older. | | | | that you have some form of the disease: |
| We will look at rheumatoid arthritis in more detail first. | | | | The joint is swollen or red which suggests that |
| Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition that | | | | there is inflammation |
| primarily affects the smaller joints in your body like | | | | The joint symptom is associated with systemic |
| your hands, wrists and feet. This arthritis disease is | | | | features such as fever, general fatigue or body |
| three times more common among woman than men | | | | stiffness lasting more than 10 to 15 minutes |
| and strikes around 1% of the U.S. population - which | | | | Joints are affected on both sides, rather than one |
| means that at any one time the lives of millions of | | | | sided |
| people are been affected by this crippling disease. It | | | | A final diagnosis, however, needs to be made by your |
| can also get worse over time and eventually may | | | | doctor. While there is no cure for RA at the moment, |
| affect other organs in the body as well. | | | | people suffering from the disease can have |
| The second most common type of arthritis is called | | | | considerable control over it through their diet, lifestyle |
| osteoarthritis. As we explained earlier, osteoarthritis is a | | | | changes and physical therapy. |
| "wear-and-tear" type of arthritis that mainly affects the | | | | One form of treatment that has proven to be |
| elderly. Osteoarthritis usually impacts upon the larger | | | | particularly effective against the joint inflammation of |
| weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees. | | | | rheumatoid arthritis is omega-3 fatty supplements. Try |
| Another point of difference between rheumatoid | | | | to maintain a healthy weight, take adequate rest and |
| arthritis and osteoarthritis can been seen in the duration | | | | eat a healthy diet consisting of omega-3 supplements |
| of joint stiffness and pain. | | | | in the form of fish oil supplements. If you are |
| When someone suffers from RA, the stiffness in their | | | | consistent, your arthritis will be more manageable and |
| joints is worse after rest - such as first thing in the | | | | may even recede. Now that you understand the |
| morning - and often lasts at least 30 minutes or more. | | | | benefits of fish oil supplements, take a look at the |
| In addition, RA has a tendency to affect the knuckles | | | | products on my website that I use myself, along with |
| and the wrists, areas that are usually not affected by | | | | other good tips and advice to fight arthritis. |
| osteoarthritis. With osteoarthritis, however, joint | | | | |