Arthritis is
not a single disease but it is broad term which covers over 100 diseases
related to joint pain or joint disease. People from all age group can have
arthritis and in India Arthritis affects 15% population i.e. over 180 million
people. But very few people are aware of it and they usually get diagnosed at
late stage which creates complications.
What is arthritis?
A severe to
mild inflammation of the joints could be arthritis. The prevalence of arthritis
is more common in women than men. Inflammation of joints can cause damage to
the affected joint and cause pain and stiffness.
Types of Arthritis:
There are
many types of arthritis but the two most common of them are 1) Osteoarthritis
and 2) Rheumatoid arthritis
·
Osteoarthritis
This condition generally
occurs with age and affects fingers, knees and hips. Sometimes osteoarthritis follows an
injury to a joint. For example, a young person might hurt his knee badly
playing soccer. Or someone might fall or be injured in a car accident. Then,
years after the individual’s knee has apparently healed, he might get arthritis
in his knee joint.
·
Rheumatoid arthritis
In this type of arthritis body’s own defense system doesn’t
work properly. It usually affects the big toe, but many other joints may be
affected.
How to know whether you
have arthritis?
Constant point in your joint is the main symptom by which
your body tells that there is something wrong. Having a fever, weight loss,
trouble in breathing and having rash and itch are other symptoms. Redness of
skin around joints could also be experienced sometime.
How arthritis could be
treated:
Drug
therapy works effectively for arthritis patients if started sooner. Drugs can
treat symptoms of arthritis like inflammation and stiffness. Drugs could also
be useful to suppress the inflammatory diseases. If symptoms of arthritis are
prolonged then doctors often suggest a period of physical therapy to overcome
from some of the arthritis problems. Surgery is advisable in arthritis only if
damage to joints is severe. Because of modern medical science joint replacement
surgeries have been successful. 