Arthritis is a common condition that affects many people. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 4 adults suffer from arthritis and certain factors may make increase your risk of developing the condition.
What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a medical condition characterized by swelling, tenderness, and stiffness of joints. This is a disease that involves the degeneration and inflammation of one’s joints. As a result, using the affected joints can become painful. There are a number of types of arthritis, each of which has different symptoms and requires different treatments. Areas commonly affected by arthritis include the lower back, hands, feet, hips, and knees.
What Are Common Types Of Arthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, also known as “wear and tear arthritis.” This occurs when joint cartilage breaks down from repeated stress. Cartilage should cushion the ends of bones and allow for friction-free motion, but wear to cartilage can result in bone grinding against bone.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which one’s immune system attacks their own body, targeting the lining, or synovial membrane, of joints. The lining can become swollen and inflamed, and the process can lead to the destruction of the cartilage and bone within the affected joints.
Gout is a disease in which hard crystals of uric acid form in one’s joints when there is an excess of uric acid in one’s bloodstream. This condition commonly affects the big toe.
Psoriatic arthritis describes arthritis that forms in people with a skin condition called psoriasis. Psoriasis is an immune condition that results in noncontagious thick, dry patches of skin.
What Are Risk Factors For Arthritis?
Age. The risk for arthritis increases with age. Age can also make existing arthritis more severe.
Gender. Certain types of arthritis are more common in one gender than the other. Gout is more common in men, while osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are more common in women.
Weight. Excess weight can put someone at risk for osteoarthritis of the knees, or make existing knee osteoarthritis worse. Extra weight can also put more stress on your spine, or weight-bearing hip joints as well.
Lifestyle. Research shows that a smoking habit or sedentary lifestyle can increase someone’s likelihood of arthritis. Cigarettes are linked to increasing the risk of rheumatoid arthritis and making the condition worse.
Family History. If other family members have had arthritis, it may be a likelihood.
Previous Joint Injury. Someone who has injured a joint, while playing sports or in an accident, is more likely to develop arthritis in the injured joint.
Infection. Bacteria or viruses can potentially cause arthritis if they affect your joints.
If you are living with arthritis and find that pain is affecting your enjoyment of day-to-day life, it may be time to seek treatment and pain management. For patients located in the east Stroudsburg, PA area, the experts at MVM Health would be glad to offer guidance and a variety of treatment methods for chronic pain. Call 570-445-2200 to request an appointment.
