Living with arthritis: A health guide for you

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.