The word ‘Arthritis’ actually means “joint inflammation” and there are over 100 related conditions or forms of arthritis. Left untreated, it can become advanced, resulting in joint damage that is irreversible. If you suspect you have arthritis, early detection and treatment are vital.
The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although both have similar symptoms, both have different causes. When joints are overused or injured, osteoarthritis can develop. The cartilage protecting and cushioning the joint wears away, resulting in the bones rubbing painfully against each other. This seems to be more common in the knees, but is also found in the hips, spine and hands. By the time pain is felt, a lot of the cartilage will already have been worn away. OA can either continue to progress, or stabilize at a certain point.
The second type, rheumatoid arthritis, is a chronic autoimmune form of joint inflammation caused by the body’s immune system attacking its own joint tissue. This eventually causes damage to bones and cartilage and limits the joint’s normal range of motion. Still not fully understood in the medical community, this condition most often starts in a person’s hands, wrists and feet. It then advances to shoulders, elbows and hips.
Symptoms of RA include pain, stiffness, fatigue, weakness, slight fever and inflamed tissue lumps under the skin. Both OA and RA generally develop symmetrically, i.e. the same joints on both the left and right sides of the body are affected.
One difference between OA and RA is the swelling which these conditions cause. With RA, people report “soft and squishy” swellings. People suffering from OA report “hard and bony” swellings. Another difference is that RA appears to be hereditary- a person is more likely to develop RA if a sibling or parent had the condition. With OA, the risk of developing the condition increases in a person with a history of joint damage, either through injury or chronic strain.
Although there is no specific age for arthritis to occur, it seems to focus on those over 45 years of age. And while neither gender is immune, just over 15 million OA sufferers are women. People with excess weight tend to be at risk of developing OA in later life, especially in load bearing joints such as knees and hips. Losing weight can reduce the risk of developing OA almost by half. Regular activity combined with exercise also reduces risk, strengthening joint muscles and reducing joint wear.
Women are also twice as likely to develop RA as men; most sufferers are between the ages of 40 and 60 when they develop the condition. Unlike OA, RA is not caused by aging or wear and tear on the joints. If you are a smoker, this will increase your chances of developing RA, although it is not yet understood why.
Although there is currently no cure for either OA or RA, it is possible to reduce the symptoms and associated pain and allow sufferers to live full and active lives.
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