Arthritis: An Overview of Diagnoses, Types, Symptoms, and Treatment
With age, many of us tend to feel pain in the joints. This is often felt in our knees, such as knee inflammation, stiffness, pain while walking, and swelling even in our knuckles. However, many people experience these symptoms even when they are young. These individuals are often confused as to why this has happened to them. But, clarity on the causative agents and remedial measures can help you combat the problem with ease.
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is the affliction of the joints present in the human body and is often associated with pain and inflammation. Arthralgia is what’s known as pain in the joints. Juvenile Chronic Arthritis is what’s diagnosed for children under the age of sixteen.
Types of Arthritis
Arthritis comes in a variety of forms, some of the most common and severe kinds include:
- osteoarthritis
- rheumatoid arthritis
- gout
- juvenile variant
- Psoriatic Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Scleroderma
- Lupus
A degerative type of arthritis that is stems from a breaking down of the joints is called osteoarthritis. Some of the more common causes include obesity, joint overuse, and injuries. Heredity has also been provent to play a role in this form of arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease wherein a form of protein is seen as a foreign particle by the immune system. As a result, the lymphocytes, which are a part of the immune system, start releasing cytokines. These are predominantly interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which responds by inducing pain, swelling and degeneration.
The joint disorder that affect children is known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. There are multiple subsets of this based on how many joints are impacted, including systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, polyarticular, and pauciarticular.
Males are primarily affected by what’s known as gout. It is often seen in the small bones of the body, namely the big toe. This stems from uric acid crystals accumulating inside of the joints.
Psoriatic arthritis impacts the joints and skin of the body. The presence of patchy bumps, of white and red rashes on the scalp, elbows, naval, kness, and parts around the genitals are some signs of this type of arthritis.
Ankylosing spondylitis is the joint disorder that is visible in the spine of the human body. When the body’s and bone’s connective tissue are damaged and inflamed to a large degree, this disorder is referred to as lupus. Arthritis that affects the bone fastenings and muscles that is predominantly diagnosed in women is called fibromyaglia. Scleroderma impacts the body’s connective tissue in many places, causing hardened and thickened skin.
Symptoms of Arthritis
Joint pain in the hips, spine, knee, and feet is associated with osteoarthritis. Swelling of the joints, fatigue, and arthritis pain is associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Pain and inflammation that occurs in a consistent pattern is common with this form of arthritis.
The following are some additional symptoms:
- stiffness
- warmth
- tenderness
- pain
- inflammation and swelling
- rash
Treatment Methodologies
Treatment revolves around reducing pain and inflammation, and can consist of the following:
- exercise
- medication
- dieting
- relaxation techniques
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Filed under Uncategorized by on Aug 10th, 2011.
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