Arthritis is a painful condition that afflicts many people of all ages; you probably know someone who has it, or you may suffer from it yourself. You might not know, however, that there are actually a number of different kinds of arthritis. In fact, over 100 forms of the disease have been identified. They all have something in common, however. Arthritis is a cluster of conditions that attack and damage the body’s joints. Here we’ll take a look at three of the most common forms of the disease and how they can affect you.
The most prevalent type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint condition that develops as a consequence of undue stress on the joints, an infection of the joints, or sometimes as a result of the normal aging process. Osteoarthritis impacts the joints by reducing the amount of cartilage in the bones. As it attacks the cartilage, the bones attempt to repair themselves. The bone then takes on a new shape and, throughout the process, a painful bone cyst is formed.
Osteoarthritis has a number of symptoms which you should be aware of. If you experience any sort of inflexibility when moving a joint and it results in pain, then you need to pay a visit to your health care provider as this could be an early indication of osteoarthritis. The joints which are most frequently attacked by osteoarthritis are the knees, hips, spine and fingers.
Rheumatoid arthritis is another form of the disease which results in serious inflammation of the joints. It sometimes attacks certain organs in the body as well, thus triggering your immune system to mistakenly attack its own tissue. The technical term for this form of disease is “autoimmune,” wherein antibodies in the blood target your own body. Typically, if your immune system attacks itself, inflammation takes place.
The primary indication of rheumatoid arthritis is swelling and irritation of at least one of your joints. Other warning signs include loss of appetite, tiredness, lack of energy, fever, and joint stiffness. Most people find that the stiffness is most noticeable during the early hours of the day. Joints can also become reddened and tender whenever symptoms flare up. Fortunately, even though rheumatoid arthritis is classified as a chronic disease, lots of people enjoy extended periods of time during which they have no uncomfortable symptoms.
Finally, there is psoriatic arthritis, generally referred to as psoriatic arthritis autoimmune disease (PSAAD). Its name comes from the skin condition known as psoriasis. Similar to rheumatoid arthritis, it is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks itself; however, psoriatic arthritis attacks the skin in addition to the joints. The primary symptoms of this condition are inflamed and itchy patches on the skin. These patches sometimes become scaly or flaky. Psoriasis most frequently appears on the knees, elbows, genitals and scalp. Generally, people who experience joint inflammation together with psoriasis are diagnosed as suffering from psoriatic arthritis.
Other Kinds of Arthritis:
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Reactive Arthritis
Links:
The Arthritis Society (more types of arthritis)
