May brings awareness to Arthritis, and it is not a single disease, but according to arthritis.org; is an informal way of referring to joint pain or joint disease. In fact that are more than 100 different types of arthritis and similar conditions. You can be any age and get arthritis, and it doesn’t matter what your race is. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States, more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children have a type of arthritis. Arthritis is common among women and older people.
Some common symptoms include swelling pain, decrease of range of movement and stiffness. Conditions vary and can worsen overtime. Sometimes symptoms come and go, or can be mild or even severe. Arthritis can cause permanent joint damage, and makes it hard to do daily tasks everyday. Some types of arthritis can affect the lungs, heart, kidneys, eyes, skin and joints. There are different types of arthritis,
Degenerative arthritis (Osteoarthritis) is when cartilage on the end of your bones wears away, causing bones to run against one another causing pain and can become chronic.
Inflammatory Arthritis is when our healthy immune system tries to protect us by getting rid of the infection. Inflammation happens, and the body mistakes the joints as an infection. Causing uncontrollable inflammation causing erosion and could damage internal organs, eyes and other parts of the body. Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis are examples of inflammatory arthritis.
Infectious Arthritis happens when organisms infect joints such as salmonella, shigella, chlamydia and gonorrhea and hepatitis C. Timely treatment with antibiotics may clear joint infection.
To diagnose arthritis start with your primary care physician, for exams to find arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis are examples of inflammatory arthritis. Rheumatologists typically manage treatment for on going inflammatory arthritis. Orthopaedic surgeons do joint surgery, and joint replacements. But what can we do to combat arthritis? Learning even more about your arthritis, treatment options, making time for physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight can help! The Arthritis Foundation serves many people with arthritis with many tips and helpful information. arthritis.org
You can also wear blue in support of Arthritis this month.