Few Things You Probably Didn't Know About Arthritis!

Although you may be aware of arthritis as a concept, not many people know of these 7 facts about arthritis.

• Arthritis is a general term

Arthritis is a term used to define several different conditions of the joint. The two broad categories are degenerative arthritis, where the joint undergoes wear and tear, and inflammatory arthritis, where the damage results from inflammation around the joints. The different conditions expose the patients to different kinds of risks such as degeneration of the cartilages, wear and tear of the neck, knees, lower back, hands, and hips, swelling of small joints like wrists, etc.

• It affects all ages

A common belief is arthritis strikes in old age but a large number of patients suffering from arthritis are under the age of 65. This also includes teenagers and people in their 20s. Arthritis is a condition largely dependent on genetic factors and has nothing to do with age. So, if you experience pain, swelling, or stiffness in a joint for more than a few weeks, it is best to consult a doctor.

• Cardiovascular risks

People suffering from arthritis become prone to cardiovascular disease. The inflammations in the joints make one prone to inflammations in the arteries as well as a condition called atherosclerosis or excess buildup in the arteries. However, with prompt treatment and pain controlling medication, cardiovascular risks can be successfully dodged.

• Obesity

Obesity and excess weight puts a lot of stress on joints, which can lead to their degeneration resulting in damage and osteoarthritis. Obesity is also characterized by excess body fat that may be responsible for inflammations and other changes in the body, increasing the risk of arthritis and other musculoskeletal complications. If you have a family history of arthritis, it is best to keep your weight in check

• Complete cure is a myth

It’s unclear what causes rheumatoid arthritis, however, scientists believe that a combination of genetics and environmental factors can trigger autoimmunity. There’s no known way to prevent rheumatoid arthritis, but slowing disease activity can help minimize joint damage.

There’s no cure for most types of arthritis, treatment focuses on reducing the pain and preventing additional damage to the joints. An exception to this would be infectious types of arthritis where antibiotics are being used to rule out or cure the underlying root cause of the infection

Arthritis affects millions of people worldwide. With a better understanding of arthritis, one can get treatment early on and be saved from rather painful experiences to a large extent. Since it can affect anyone and there is no known method of prevention or cure, it is best to focus on reducing the pain as early as possible to minimize and delay the damage to the joints.