Understanding Arthritis

More than 66 millions have some form of arthritis. Keep watching to learn more about this common condition.

Arthritis #1 – Understanding Arthritis More than 66 million American suffer from some form of arthritis and many do not even know why they are experiencing pain. So what exactly is arthritis. Dr. Vijay Vad, M.D. Hospital for Special Surgery Official PGA & Pro-Tennis Tour Doctor Arthritis is a disease characterized by pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. There are more than 100 types of this disease which are among the oldest and most chronic in the world. To understand how arthritis works, let us take a look at the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system is made up of 650 muscles and 206 bones which support the body. The places where the bones meet and movement takes place are called joints. Arthritis arises when for various reasons the joints stop working properly. The different types of arthritis are classified by the way in which the joint fails to function. Two of the most common joint failures result in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that protects bones begins to wear away. The raw area that results causes bone to wrap painfully on bone. Rheumatoid arthritis on the other hand happens when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissue resulting in joint inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease which means it is characterized by a long periods where a sufferer feels fine intersperse with painful flare-ups. This type of arthritis, it occurs at any age. In contrast, osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease which means it becomes steadily worst overtime. People who are overweight put extra pressure on their hips knees, and other weight bearing joints. This can contribute to the wearing away of vital joint cartilage. Other cause of osteoarthritis includes sports related injuries and physical trauma like car accidents. Occupations that depend on heavy physical labor are another common culprit. Osteoarthritis is most common in older women due to shortage of estrogen. No matter the classification, arthritis usually causes pain, swelling, or stiffness in the joints. People who have rheumatoid arthritis may also feel generally ill and experienced flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, fever, and lack of appetite. Usually the pain of rheumatoid arthritis is symmetrical, meaning the joints are inflamed on both sides of the body. Osteoarthritis on the other hand usually occurs on only one side of the body. For example a sufferer may experience pain in the right hip but not their left. Although there is currently no cure for arthritis, a number of options can help ease painful symptoms. For more information, check out my book, “Arthritis Rx” a cutting edge for pain free life and remember if you think you may have arthritis, please see a doctor. Want to learn more, check out other videos and sources on this site for more information.