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Arthritis is primarily a condition of the elderly. However, you can reduce your risk of developing this condition later in life. In this article, you will know more about arthritis, its causes, and prevention, especially at early ages.
Arthritis is a joint disorder that causes pain and irritations, making it difficult to move the joints. Arthritis has different types and is very common in older people. However, in some cases, younger people do have arthritis as well.
Arthritis also causes degeneration of the joint. It affects the feet, hips, knees, hands, and lower back. It is a prevalent disease that affects millions of adults and thousands of children yearly.
What Are The Different Types Of Arthritis?
- Gout: This is a type of arthritis that can occur at any age. It causes severe pain, redness, and swelling in the affected joints. It affects the toe primarily. It can be caused by accumulated urate crystals (which are caused by too much uric acid in the blood) in the joints, leading to irritation and severe pain.
- Juvenile Arthritis: This is the most popular type of arthritis that affects children under 16. The symptoms include intense pain, stiffness, and swelling of the joints. Juvenile arthritis might affect some children for many years, while some might experience it for a few months. The damages of juvenile arthritis can be severe, leading to growth issues, eye irritations, and joint deterioration.
- Osteoarthritis: Millions of people worldwide suffer from this type of arthritis yearly. It happens when there is wear and tear of the protective cartilage that pads the ends of the bones. It is most common in the hand, knee, spine, and hip joints.
- Psoriatic Arthritis: This type of arthritis is common among psoriasis people. Psoriasis is a disease that causes the skin to develop red patches. It is an autoimmune disorder that leads to skin inflammation.
- Ankylosing Spondylitis: This type of arthritis causes stiffness in some of the bones in the spine over time and is more common in men than women. It could also lead to a hunched posture. In cases where the ribs have gotten affected, the individual might be unable to breathe correctly.
Causes Of Arthritis
There are various causes for each type of arthritis. For instance, juvenile arthritis happens when the body’s immune system attacks tissue and cells. Researchers are unsure why this happens, but environmental and genetic factors also contribute to this type of arthritis. You might develop arthritis if you:
- Perform activities that put your joints under extreme and persistent stress
- Have a family background and history of arthritis
- Are suffering from a particular autoimmune infection or disease
Some risk factors could increase your chances of developing arthritis, such as age (older people), lifestyle choices, e.g. (smoking), weight, e.g. (obesity), gender (most women suffer from some types of arthritis than men). Search for primary care physicians near you if you have a family history of arthritis.
How To Prevent Arthritis
Although some arthritis might not be very preventable, you could lower your risks of developing arthritis through the following:
- By keeping fit through exercises
- By staying away from tobacco and cigarettes
- By protecting your joints from injuries during sports or other physical activities
- By staying committed to a healthy diet.
Treatment of Arthritis
Although there is no cure for arthritis, you can manage it with various treatment methods.
Depending on the situation, your health care provider might recommend specific treatment methods to help prevent more damages and manage the disease. You can get arthritis treatment in Germantown, MD.
- Therapy: Your health care provider might recommend some exercises that can enhance your movements. These exercises would help strengthen the muscles that support your joints.
- Medication: Some medications can treat arthritis. Based on the type of arthritis, your doctor might recommend NSAIDs, steroids, and counterirritants to reduce joint irritation and aid movements.
- Surgery: If your doctor has considered other types of treatment and seen that they are not working effectively enough, surgery might be the next step. The various types of surgery for arthritis include joint repair, joint fusion, and joint replacement. You can get arthritis surgery near you.
Visit Germantown Primary Healthcare for more information regarding arthritis. You will meet Dr. Lakhvinder Wadhwa to give you preventive tips and treatments if you have already developed arthritis. We are here to provide you with the support you need.
