Arthritis


In 1985, more than 35 million Americans were suffering from arthritis or chronic joint problems. Today, that number has nearly doubled to 66 million adults, which is nearly one in every three adults.

Facts About Arthritis

Arthritis can make simple tasks such as walking, dressing, or bathing difficult or impossible. The cost to the economy to counter the problem is over $86.2 billion dollars annually. Arthritis can affect all age groups, including children; some 300,000 kids suffer from arthritis already. It is more common in women than men, with about 41 million women affected, versus 28.9 million men.

Arthritis is one of the most common chronic health problems affecting the nation's populous. It is the leading cause of disability in the United States for people ages 15 and over. It is second only to heart disease as the leading cause of work disability.

Types of Arthritis

Arthritis causes pain, loss of movement and occasional swelling in joints and other afflicted parts of the body. There are several classified types of arthritis.
  • Osteoarthritis- a degenerative joint disease in which cartilage in the joint deteriorates, resulting in pain and loss of movement. This is the most common form of arthritis.

  • Rheumatoid arthritis - an autoimmune disease where joint lining becomes inflamed due to activity in the immune system. One of the most serious forms of arthritis, this form mainly affects women.

  • Gout - normally born of a defect in body chemistry, this condition is very painful as it attacks small joints, especially the big toe. Controlled with medication and changes in diet, gout mostly affects men.

  • Ankylosing spondylitis - a type of arthritis that affects the spine where bones of the spine fuse together.

  • Juvenile arthritis – any type of arthritis that occurs in children
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How to Deal with Arthritis and Pain

Managing ongoing and chronic pain is one of the most difficult conditions associated with arthritis. Learning to manage, control, and understand the source of the pain can made a positive impact on your quality of life.

Knowing which type of arthritis or condition you have and which pain management techniques work best are crucial to understanding the basic concepts of arthritis pain.

Arthritis pain is caused by several factors, such as:
  • Inflammation, the process that causes the redness and swelling in your joints

  • Damage to joint tissues, caused by the disease process or from stress, injury or pressure on the joints.

  • Fatigue that results from the disease process, which can make your pain seem worse and harder to handle.

  • Depression or stress, which results from limited movement or no longer participating in activities you enjoy
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Pain is worsened by such factors as increased disease activity, stress, excessive physical activity, pain focus, fatigue, anxiety and depression.
Pain can be combated by a positive attitude and pleasant thoughts, appropriate exercise, relaxation, medications, massage, distraction, topical pain relievers, humor, and heat and cold treatments.

By Blaise Morita           


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