Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. Its main symptoms are pain and stiffness, which typically worsens with age. According to the National Health Interview Survey, nearly half of U.S. adults aged 65 and older, which includes 25.7 million people, have doctor diagnosed arthritis with more women than men suffering from the disease. Some people say their malady is worse during humid or cold weather.
The most common types are osteoarthritis, which causes cartilage, the hard, slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they form a joint, to break down and rheumatoid arthritis when a person’s immune system attacks the lining of joints.
Uric acid crystals, which form when there’s too much uric acid in a person’s blood, can cause gout, most often in the big toe. Infections or underlying disease, such as psoriasis or lupus, can cause other types of arthritis.
Risk factors include tobacco use, family history, other health conditions such as obesity and lack of physical activity. Yet, athletes, especially those who play contact sports, and people who have physically demanding jobs or do work that puts a lot of stress on joints, are susceptible.
In the book, “The Complete Dinosaur,” Bruce M. Rothschild, Professor of Medicine at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine in Youngstown, Ohio, states rheumatoid arthritis can be traced back to a small portion of dinosaurs and prehistoric man.
Reference to arthritis is found in texts at least as far back as 4500 B.C. A text dated 123 A.D. first describes symptoms that appear similar to RA.
In 1859, British rheumatologist, Dr. Alfred Baring Garrod, gave the disease its current name.
Although, the ailment has been known for centuries, there is no cure. Treatment usually consists of over-the-counter anti-inflammatories and therapy to stay strong, active and confident throughout your daily routine. If a person has severe arthritis, surgery may be needed.
Do you cope with arthritis?