According to CDC, 1 in every 4 US adults is diagnosed with Arthritis. That makes about 58.5 million people, just in the USA. India, on the other hand, has seen over 180 million people suffer from the dis. That is more than the prevalence of diseases like AIDS, Diabetes, and even Cancer.
As the number of cases increases, there is still concern around awareness and treatment for the disease. The buzz seems limited, and many people remain ignorant of their pains. This article sheds some light on Arthritis, its common types, and some myths that surround it.
Arthritis is a disease that affects one or more joints. A patient experiences joint pain, stiffness, and swelling that increases with age. The inflammation and degeneration of bone and joints can lead to complications if not treated in time. Arthritis affects the feet, wrist, hands, hips, knees, and lower back.
Arthritis can happen to both men and women at any age. Arthritis in children below the age of sixteen years is known as Juvenile Arthritis. The most common types of Arthritis among adults are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis symptoms include joint pain, inflammation, inability to move joints properly, swelling, and stiffness.
There are over 100 different types of Arthritis known to man. But, some are a lot more common than others. The symptoms of Arthritis also depend on the type. The five most common types of arthritis are-
Osteoarthritis is the most common type. It is common among the older population and occurs due to wear-and-tear of joints over time. Joint injuries and obesity can cause Osteoarthritis in younger people. Osteoarthritis affects the knee, feet, hips, and spine.
Common symptoms include aching pain in joints, pain during walking, swelling in joints with an inability to move them completely, and joint stiffness, especially after getting up in the morning.
This type of Arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Severe inflammation causes joint damage if not treated on time. Symptoms are usually severe than those of Osteoarthritis.
Common symptoms include rheumatic nodules, stiffness, and swelling of joints. Every one in five individuals who have Rheumatoid Arthritis has rheumatoid nodules, usually over joints that receive pressure.
Psoriatic Arthritis includes the inflammation of joints and the skin. This type of Arthritis is common among age groups 30 to 50 years. It can happen to both men and women.
The symptoms include swelling in fingers and toes, patches and redness on the skin, and pitted or discolored nailbeds.
Gout causes uric acid crystals to build up near joints. It is present near the big toe or part of the foot. The most common causes of gout are excess uric acid in the body and the inability of kidneys to process the uric acid.
Common symptoms are swelling and pain in the foot, discomfort in joints, inflammation, and redness.
Also known as Systematic Lupus Erythematosis, Lupus is an autoimmune disease. Lupus can affect various joints and presents in the form of inflammation and pain. It is more common in women, especially during their child-bearing age.
Symptoms also include fatigue, butterfly-shaped rashes, swelling in joints, headache, anemia, and chest pain.
No, cracking knuckles can neither cause swelling nor joint pains. Furthermore, it can not cause Arthritis. The cracking is harmless and causes some noise.
No, an individual who has Arthritis should also get in touch with a rheumatologist. A rheumatologist receives training to diagnose and manage Arthritis using medicines.
Arthritis, especially osteoarthritis, is linked with aging. Wear-and-tear with aging is common, but everyone doesn’t have arthritis. Some people experience arthritis at a younger age, and some don’t have it throughout their life.
Without proper diagnosis by a rheumatologist, one should not conclude about having the disease. Diseases like tendonitis, soft-tissue injuries, abnormal growths, and bursitis can cause joint pains.
When we talk about Osteoarthritis vs Osteoporosis, the diseases are very different. Osteoarthritis is the inflammation of joints and cartilage due to wear and tear or its overuse. Osteoporosis is the loss of bone mass that can cause spontaneous fractures. Osteoporosis is also often painless. If a patient is diagnosed with osteoporosis and has pain, it is likely that the patient can also be suffering from osteoarthritis. However, it is advised to have a proper diagnosis to find out more about the conditions.
Arthritis is like any other disease that requires medicines and regular check-ups. In cases where patients with Arthritis undergo orthopedic surgeries, they may need extra care, even after surgery. Doctors around the globe recommend Virtual care services that can provide virtual assistance, physiotherapy assistance, psychological counseling, and remote monitoring.
To know about DayToDay Health’s Virtual Care Services and how it ca help patients with the aforementioned conditions, connect with us at https://bit.ly/39YfFLw.
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