Arthritis sees the slow erosion of the cartilage in the joints – this disease causes stiffness and affects the musculoskeletal system. Bones have a tissue cover on them which protects them while rubbing against each other called cartilage. The cells that the cartilage is made up of are known as the chondrocytes and function just like other glands and organs in the body. Normally, all of the chondrocytes will die out and be replaced by the new cartilage cells.
Over time, inflammation might kill more cartilage cells which make replacement difficult to keep up with. Cartilage cells are not sufficiently regenerated when there is injury or insufficient nutrition for regenerating new cells. Lack of sufficient cartilage, can cause instability, joint weakness, pain and deformity, all of which affect and interrupt regular activities. The traditional treatment to arthritis demands change of one's lifestyle besides physical therapy and medication. The last resort to treat joint problems is the invasive joint replacement therapy and is only resorted to after all other treatments have failed.
Arthritis is mainly categorized into two types, ‘localized' and ‘generalized' depending on which areas are affected (body or the joints). They are then sub categorized. Localized conditions are where the soft tissue around the bone or joint is affected. It refers to conditions like tendonitis and bursitis. One of the localized conditions could affect just the hip or the knee joints. Generalized conditions involve a sub category where there is no swelling or inflammation but the muscle and soft tissue are affected. A common type in arthritis is Fibromyalgia and this is categorized in the main category which does not cause joint damage.
The second sub category is one where there is inflammation and the whole body is affected. Other generalized conditions are polymyositis (muscles); systemic lupus erythematosus (skin, kidneys, or other organs); and vasculitis (any organ). Other generalized conditions are polymyositis (muscles); systemic lupus erythematosus (skin, kidneys, or other organs); and vasculitis (any organ).
A person can have more than one type of arthritis and it includes more than 100 medical conditions that affect approximately 46 million adults and 300,000 children in the United States. As early on as infancy, this condition can begin, even though it is most commonly seen in adults that are over the age of sixty, in the primary form of osteoarthritis. The number of people suffering out of this condition is increasing proportionally with the increasing average age of the American population. With old age setting in people suffering with arthritis is increasing day by day.
Within the United States, arthritis as well as several related illnesses are known to be the cause of major disability and it cost over one hundred and twenty four billion dollars each year in indirect expenses and medical care expenses. Individuals can help prevent osteoarthritis by following a few simple steps: Maintaining appropriate weight and consuming fresh fruits and vegetables as a good source of vitamins c and d. By taking the time to make sure that you are consuming enough calcium, participate in regular exercise and avoiding injuries that are brought about due to sports activities, you can also help with prevention of this condition.
