A glimpse into joint pain and Arthritis and 5 simple ways to rise above it.
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Every year 15 million Indians are being affected by Osteoarthritis. With the prevalence ranging from 22% to 39%, it is becoming more and more common. It, therefore is important to educate oneself about joint pain and Arthritis to be aware of the consequences and know how to avoid them..
In simple words, Arthritis is inflammation in the joints. It can, however affect other organs like eyes or skin. Although it is most common among people over 65, it can even affect those in their teens. In addition, more women than men are affected by this disease. It can also affect people who are overweight.
The joint pain and stiffness caused by it usually worsen with age. This is caused because of distortion of cartilage.
Cartilage is nothing but a tissue covering the ends of the bones where they form a joint. It allows smooth joint movement. When this cartilage breaks down, it causes the bones to rub against each other, which causes joint pain.
There are over 100 types of arthritis.
Here are the most common ones-
● Osteoarthritis (OA)- The most common type of arthritis is a degenerative joint disease that occurs most commonly among older people. It is a result of wear and tear and affects joints that are more overworked than others.
Although, it can affect younger people as well. It is majorly related to joint pain due to ageing or injury.
● Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)- It is a type of autoimmune arthritis. When a person’s immune system attacks itself, it results in stiffness in the joints and issues relating to mobility.
● Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis- It is a type of Rheumatoid Arthritis that affects children.
● Infectious Arthritis- Also called septic Arthritis, this type spreads from another part of the body to the joint. It occurs when the joint or the fluid around the joint is affected by infection-causing germs from another part of the body.
● Psoriatic Arthritis- It affects people with psoriasis- a condition that features red patches of skin topped with silvery scales. Most people develop this disease after they are diagnosed with psoriasis. In some instances, it can happen the other way around.
● Gout- It usually severely affects a single joint. It is caused by the deposition of uric acid in the joint. It often starts in the big toe.