This blog discusses the different kinds of arthritis symptoms, what causes them, their types, and possible treatments. Arthritis disease means joint inflammation. This term is used to describe over 100 conditions that affect your joints ( the areas where your bones meet and move). Well, this disease can cause you swelling, pain, and stiffness in and as well as around your joints. In the USA, there are over 58.5 million adults are affected by this disease, which is equal to 1 in 4 people. This is a very common disease among older people aged 65 years or more. However, it can also affect people of young ages and children too.
What is Arthritis?
So, If you are having any kind of pain and stiffness in your body or you aren’t able to move around, you might have arthritis. It is very difficult to say what has caused arthritis. Well, there are multiple factors that can increase the risk of each type of arthritis. It could be possible that the genes you inherited from your parents or your grandparents made you more likely to get this disease.
Arthritis disease can make your life very painful and tough. Their symptoms can also vary from day to day, and even week to week. The most common arthritis in the United States is Osteoarthritis(OA).
Types of Arthritis
There are over 100 types of arthritis. There are multiple types of arthritis. Common ones include the following:
1. Osteoarthritis (OA)
This type of arthritis is very common. People call it degenerative joint or “wear and tear” arthritis. Osteoarthritis is also called degenerative joint disease. This occurs mostly in the hips, hands, and knees. In this type, the cartilage inside the joint begins to break down, and the underlying bone begins to change. The changes in osteoarthritis generally occur slowly over many years. It can cause stiffness, pain, and swelling. In some other cases, it causes reduced function and disability.
Signs:
- Pain or aching
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Decreased range of motion (or flexibility)
2. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Rheumatoid Arthritis or RA, is an autoimmune disease, which that means in your body the immune system attacks the healthy cells by mistake, causing inflammation (painful swelling).
Inflammation is usually a very important tool in the immune system. This happens when the body sends extra blood and fluid to a specific area to fight infection.
It mainly affects your joints, usually many joints at once. It affects the joints of the hands, wrists, and knees. RA can also affect other body parts and cause problems in the organs such as the heart, lungs, and eyes. About 1 out of every 5 people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis have lumps called rheumatoid nodules on their skin.
Signs:
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- More than one swollen joint
- A symmetrical pattern
3. Gout
It is one of the common forms of inflammatory arthritis that is very painful. This causes swelling, redness, heat, and stiffness of the joints. This type generally affects one joint at a time (often the joint of the big toe). If gout goes untreated for a very long time, it can affect your kidneys and as well as joints.
Gout occurs as a result of one of three causes:
- The body produces more uric acid.
- The kidneys cannot process the uric acid produced by your body.
- You eat too many foods that increase uric acid levels.
There is no permanent cure for this type, but you can effectively treat this condition and manage it with medications and self-management strategies.
Signs:
- Intense joint pain
- Discomfort
- Hard to move
- Inflammation and redness
4. Fibromyalgia
This is a condition that causes pain throughout the body, also called widespread pain. It also causes sleep problems, fatigue, and emotional and mental disorders. People with this type of disease may be more sensitive to pain than people without fibromyalgia. This is known as abnormal pain perception processing. Fibromyalgia affects about 4 million united State adults, which is about 2% of the adult population.
Signs:
- Pain and stiffness all over the body
- Headaches, including migraines
- Fatigue and exhaustion
- Depression and anxiety
- Sleep problems
- Problems with thinking, memory, and concentration.
5. Childhood Arthritis
Children suffering from this type are known as childhood arthritis or juvenile arthritis. The most common type of childhood arthritis is called juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and is also known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. It can cause constant joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. Some children may experience symptoms for only a few months, while others have symptoms that persist for many years.
Signs:
- Complain of joint pain
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- Fever, swollen lymph nodes, and rash
6. Lupus
This type of arthritis can affect almost any organ of the body. In this type, it occurs when the body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs (an autoimmune disease). Inflammation caused by lupus affects many different body systems, which include joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, the heart, the brain, and the lungs.
Signs:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling
- Skin lesions that appear or are more severe when exposed to sunlight
- Fingers and toes that turn white or blue when exposed to cold or during periods of stress
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Dry eyes
- Headaches, confusion, and memory loss
- A butterfly-shaped rash on the face that covers the cheeks and bridge of the nose, or rashes in other places of the body
Arthritis Symptoms
The symptoms are depended on different types of arthritis. For some people, they may be mild, and for others, they may be severe. Discomfort in the joints can come and go, or it can remain constant. Following are the arthritis symptoms include:
- Pain, redness, heat, and swelling in your joints.
- Trouble moving around.
- Fever.
- Weight loss.
- Breathing problems.
- Rash or itch.
Note: These symptoms can also be signs of other illnesses.
Prevention Of Arthritis
The following are some prevention for this disease:
- Avoid tobacco products.
- Do low-impact, non-weight-bearing exercises.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce the risk of joint injury.
Treatment Of Arthritis
There is no cure for this disease, but there are some treatments that can help you control your condition. Your treatment plan will depend on the severity of arthritis, its symptoms, and your overall health.
- Medications and supplements
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Nutrient-rich diet
- Regular exercise
- Weight losses, if needed
- Heat and cold compresses
Know the Risk Factors
- Age: When age increases, the risk of arthritis also increases.
- Lifestyle: Smoking or lack of exercise can also increase the risk of developing arthritis.
- Sex: Most types of this disease are more common in females.
- Weight: Obesity puts extra strain on your muscles, which can lead to arthritis.
Complications
Severe arthritis, especially if it affects your hands, can make it difficult to perform everyday tasks. Arthritis of the joints that carry weight can prevent you from walking comfortably or sitting up straight. In some cases, the joints may gradually lose their alignment and shape.
Conclusions
Most types of arthritis cause joint pain and swelling. Over time, the swollen joint can be seriously affected. Some types can also cause problems with your organs, such as your eyes or skin.
Hope you have learned all the arthritis symptoms and their important elements. Please let us know about your experience with this blog in the comments section and keep visiting us for more information.