In the United States of America today, one out of every four person suffers from arthritis. The economic impact of arthritis cannot be overlooked as each year this crippling disease takes its toll on society. Over the past decade, there have been major work losses related to arthritis, resulting in approximately a 37 percent drop in the income for arthritis. This will look more devastating if we compare the statistics with people not suffering from arthritis. These people had a 90 percent rise in income during the same period.
How is Arthritis Caused
Thus you cannot overlook the disease. Arthritis cannot be wished away, but yes, a proper and early detection and treatment can save you from the disease. Arthritis is not a single disease. It includes around 100 different conditions, that influence joints and that create distinctive problems for analysis and treatment. Most of the arthritis includes inflammation of the joint. Inflammation is the body’s natural reaction to any kind of injury. But in arthritis, the bodys natural defense mechanism goes for a toss. Elements of the blood that is supposed to fight infection and repair any damage, start attacking the body instead. It will go on attacking the body, unless the inflammation stops. Thus there is no point treating the body to reduce the pain and ignoring the inflammation.
Never ignore any attack of arthritis. You must visit the doctor immediately. Timely treatment can give you immense relief from the pain. The initial symptoms of the deadly disease are persistent pain, tenderness, or swelling in one or more joints. Pain in the lower back is the most common symptom. Do not ignore it. Visit your doctor immediately.
The symptoms vary and are cyclical in nature. But you must not ignore them. If the symptoms persist for more than six weeks, you must get it diagnosed. If the pain is terribly high, you need not wait for so long.
What is Osteoarthritis?
The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. The majority of the American population is hit by this deadly disease. Osteoarthritis can hit you at any age but the most vulnerable are people in the age group of 50 to 60. it is a degenerative disease of the cartilage. Cartilages are made of a cell called chondrocytes. This cell is placed inside a structure made up of collagen and proteoglyens. In normal conditions, chondrocytes make collagen and proteoglycens. But if you are suffering from osteoarthritis, chondrocytes behave peculiarly and start making destructive enzymes such as collagenasese, stromelysin and others, which are responsible for destroying the cartilage.
Joint pain and stiffness are the basic symptoms of osteoarthritis. It usually targets areas like neck, lower back, finger joints, knees, hips. Osteoarthritis can be checked if diagnosed and treated properly.
And Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Another common type of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis. This kind in prevalent in women. It can attack any age group though middle age is the most vulnerable time. The symptoms are inflammation of the hands, wrists, elbows, hips, knees, ankles, and feet. Unlike osteoarthritis, this kind of arthritis can affect the whole body. Here, the tissue surrounding the joint is assaulted by the body’s immune system. The body is made to believe that its own tissue is a foreign substance. It counter reacts by producing special white blood cells and toxic chemicals called cytokines to destroy the foreign material. This process causes major damage to the joint.
The disease becomes deadlier when it starts attacking the internal organs like lungs, skin, blood vessels, spleen, heart, and muscles. If you suspect that you might have rheumatoid arthritis, the concerned rheumatologist looks for inflammation of the joints and other symptoms. He may ask you for a sample blood test. He may keep you under supervision for 6 weeks and then start treatment. If the symptoms deteriorate, he may start treatment faster. One of the most recent methods for treating arthritis is via magnetic resonance imaging. It uses the effect that strong magnets have on water molecules. This method is used to assess to what extent the tissue is damaged.
Usually most kinds of arthritis are not reversible even with strong medication. The damage done is done. Thus the best way to treat arthritis is to avoid it.