Arthritis

Arthritis is a condition that affects the musculoskeletal system including the joints, causing stiffness, inflammation, pain and eventually damage to the joint cartilage. Between the bones in the joints, you find cartilage and this is what prevents the bones rubbing against each other. They are like the glands in our body and the cells they are made of are called chondrocytes. Like other cells, chondrocytes have a life span and are replaced by new chondrocytes when they die.

However, over an extended period of time, the inflammation can kill more of the cartilage cells than the body is able to replace. Cartilage cells are not sufficiently regenerated when there is injury or insufficient nutrition for regenerating new cells. Lack of sufficient cartilage, can cause instability, joint weakness, pain and deformity, all of which affect and interrupt regular activities. A typical treatment of arthritis includes lifestyle changes and physical therapy. Joint replacement surgery is a last resort after healthcare providers have tried other less intrusive interventions to relieve the discomfort.

Arthritis has two main categories which is based on the areas of the body affected, 'localized' or 'generalized'. This is further divided in to sub categories. Localized conditions are where the soft tissue around the bone or joint is affected. It refers to conditions like tendonitis and bursitis. A sub-category of localized arthritis affects one or some of the joints like hip or knee joints. A generalized condition is a condition where the muscles and the soft tissues get damaged, in this condition there is no swelling or any kind of inflammation on the joints. The condition is not associated with joint damage; Fibromyalgia is a common type of arthritis that is placed under this category.

The next condition in the second sub category causes inflammation which affects the whole body. Rheumatoid arthritis is an example of a condition under this category, as well as gout, and psoriatic arthritis. Still other generalized situations include polymyositis, involving muscles, systemic lupus erythematosus involving the skin, kidneys and or other organs and vasculitis where any organ is involved.

A person can have more than one type of arthritis and it includes more than 100 medical conditions that affect approximately 46 million adults and 300,000 children in the United States. This condition can start as early as infancy, while it is most common among adults over 60, primarily in the form of osteoarthritis. As the population within America ages, the number of individuals that are suffering from arthritis is constantly increasing.

Arthritis and related illnesses are the cause of major disability in the U.S. and costs over 124 billion dollars a year in medical care and indirect expenses. By taking the time to follow a couple of simple steps, most individuals can help to prevent osteoarthritis: The ability to maintain the appropriate weight and consume fresh vegetables and fruits are a really good source of vitamins D and C. By taking the time to make sure that you are consuming enough calcium, participate in regular exercise and avoiding injuries that are brought about due to sports activities, you can also help with prevention of this condition.