Arthritis refers to joint inflammation. Besides, arthritis is not a single disease. Arthritis has a group of nearly 100 rheumatic diseases. There are many types of arthritis that can cause pain, stiffness as well as swelling in the joints.
It is possible for any part of your body to become inflamed or even painful from arthritis. Certain rheumatic conditions may even cause debilitating, or life-threatening complications which may affect other parts of the body, such as the muscles, bones, as well as the internal organs.
Two of the most common types of arthritis include osteoarthritis as well as rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis can occur at any age, even in children. The incidence of arthritis tends to increase with age. In case arthritis is left undiagnosed and untreated, the various types of arthritis can cause irreversible damage to the joints, bones, besides organs, as well as skin.
Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease. It results from wear and tear. It is the pressure of gravity which causes physical damage to the joints as well as the surrounding tissues, which lead to pain, tenderness as well as swelling besides decreased function.
Initially, osteoarthritis is one of those types of arthritis which is non-inflammatory. This is because its onset is subtle and gradual. It usually involves just one or a few joints. The joints which are mostly affected include knees, hips, and hands besides the spine. The risk of osteoarthritis tends to increase with age. Other risk factors associated include joint trauma, obesity, as well as repetitive joint use.
Rheumatoid arthritis refers to an autoimmune disease which occurs when the body’s own immune system attacks the cell lining, which is inside the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of those types of arthritis which is a chronic, potentially disabling disease. It causes joint pain, stiffness besides swelling as well as loss of joint function.