Symptoms
of Arthritis
Whenever there is a change in
the weather pattern and you feel joint pain, it could be a symptom
of arthritis. According to arthritis research provided by the Mayo
Clinic, symptoms of arthritis can be caused by excess amounts of
lubricating fluid secreted during wet weather due to changes in
the barometric pressure. Arthritis is the inflammation of one or
more joints in the body. It affects nearly 70 million adults in
the United States. That is approximately 1 in 3 Americans. In recent
data compiled by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), arthritis
is the nation's leading cause of disability in the United States.
In 2001, 49 million Americans reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis
and another 21 million reported having symptoms of arthritis.
It is very important for people to understand the symptoms of arthritis,
the disease itself, and the various arthritis treatments available.
Although chances of developing symptoms of arthritis increase with
age; this disease is not just restricted to the elderly. About two-thirds
of arthritis patients are under the age of 65. It can affect people
of all races and ethnic groups; however, more women develop arthritis
symptoms than men. Arthritis comprises over 100 different diseases
and conditions but the most common forms are Osteoarthritis
and Rheumatoid arthritis.
Other types of arthritis include:
Arthritis symptoms vary from one
individual to another. Common symptoms of arthritis include joint
pain and stiffness caused by joint inflammation. In some cases,
an individual can develop uric acid or calcium phosphate crystals
in the affected joints, which increase pain and decrease mobility.
Symptoms of arthritis affect the whole body, and may cause fatigue,
weight loss, anemia, and can also affect the heart, eyes, and lungs.
Osteoarthritis,
the most common form of arthritis, involves degeneration of cartilage
within the joints. This could be caused by usual "wear and
tear" of the synovial
joints. People suffering from arthritis should strengthen muscles
and avoid high impact activities that could worsen the symptoms.
Studies have shown that arthritis patients who exercise have reduced
symptoms of arthritis. In the case of Rheumatoid
Arthritis, another relatively common form of arthritis, tissues
and membranes (cartilage, synovial fluid) lining the joints become
inflamed. Over time antibodies develop against the inflamed tissue,
eventually destroying the components of the joint.
|
