Arthritis: Its Debilitating and Detrimental Effects

Did you know that Arthritis is one of the most disabling diseases? It’s true! Arthritis currently affects more than 40 million Americans and that figure is expected to rise to 60 million by the year 2,020. It is imperative that you read this article and find out what this devastating disease is truly about.

Arthritis: What it Is

Basically, Arthritis is inflammation of the joints. There are currently over 100 forms of Arthritis and remarkably, that number continues to rise. The most common forms of Arthritis include: Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Gout (see our next article, "Symptoms of Arthritis" for more information). Osteoarthritis is the result of degenerative joint disease, or simply "wear and tear" on the joints. Rheumatoid Arthritis is the result of an over active Immune System that results in inflammation. Gout is the oldest form of Arthritis and is the result of too much Uric Acid. The Uric Acid deposits crystals in the joints, leading to "Gouty Arthritis". The joint pain, inherent to all Arthritis sufferers, is referred to as "Arthralgia". Not only are the joints susceptible to attack, but the surrounding muscles, tissues, and organs are vulnerable to the effects of Arthritis as well. In fact, Arthritis has been known to attack the heart, kidneys, lungs, and liver.

Many people mistakenly believe that Arthritis is a disease that only affects the elderly. This simply isn’t the case. Yes it’s true that seniors, especially senior women, are effected the greatest by Osteoarthritis, yet the average age for onset of Arthritis is 47 years old, and sufferers are generally afflicted between the ages of 20-50. Sadly, even infants have been diagnosed with forms of Arthritis.

One of the most devastating effects of Arthritis has to be that it is a chronic condition. Arthritis is so weakening that it only grows worse with time. In fact, Arthritis is so detrimental that of the diseases that instill chronic physical disabilities, Arthritis is second only to Heart Disease.

The cost of Arthritis is not only measured in the loss of quality of life, but it is also measured by dollars and cents as well. It is estimated that over $150,000 is lost by an individual over the course of a lifetime due to the debilitating effects of Arthritis. This is totaled by lost wages, medical treatments, and the cost of medically based needs and care.

The overall conclusion is that Arthritis is a seriously unbearable condition that causes chronic pain and weakness. It does not only affect seniors, but forms of Arthritis also plagues children. There are over 100 forms of Arthritis and all Arthritis sufferers share one thing in common, chronic joint pain. The top three common forms of Arthritis include Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Gout. We have seen that Arthritis isn’t cured, but managed.

Some steps and treatment plans used by Arthritis sufferers include:

� Losing Weight (thereby reducing stress and strain on the joints)


� Increasing their Nutritional Intake


� Reducing Stress (both physical and emotional)


� Participating in Gentle Stress Free Exercises such as Stretching


� Using both Hot and Cold Therapies


� Protecting Joints by use of Splints and Braces


� Drug Therapies


� Surgery

If you suffer from Arthritis, don’t give up. There are many people who are discovering that with the proper management and health care provisions, they can live better, healthier, and pain free lives.

� Stay tuned for the next article in our series on Arthritis, Symptoms of Arthritis".

Keeping our joints flexible and free of arthritis can be quite a challenge, and many people feel that arthritis is simply an inevitable part of aging. With some good planning and some good habits, however, it is often possible to avoid this painful and often debilitating disease, or at least to reduce the severity of arthritis symptoms when they do occur.

One of the best ways to prevent arthritis from taking hold is to get plenty of exercise. Many studies have found that those who exercise on a regular basis suffer from far less arthritis than those who rarely or never work out.

Of course exercise has a great many benefits over and above the prevention or arthritis. Regular exercise has also been shown to improve overall health and fitness, and it may even help us live longer.

Another great way to reduce your chances of developing arthritis later in life is to eat a healthy diet. Diet is thought to have a significant role to play in the prevention of arthritis, and like exercise, a healthy diet will help you in many ways unrelated to the problem of arthritis.

Of course it is not always possible to completely prevent arthritis from happening, and it is important to choose a safe pain medication to deal with the uncomfortable aspects of arthritis. The well known problems with many prescription arthritis medications have led many people to wonder just what is safe.

The best way to find the safest arthritis medication is to consult with your physician. Only your doctor will have the complete information necessary to make such an important decision. No arthritis sufferer should attempt to self medicate, and it is important to follow the advice of your doctor when it comes to preventing and treating arthritis.

Arthritis is a serious medical condition, and it is unfortunately all too common. There are remedies available, however, that can reduce the pain, inflammation and discomfort of arthritis and related conditions. Cases of arthritis are on the rise, and as the population of the country continues to age, cases of arthritis are only likely to rise still further. While there are some promising new treatments on the horizon, as yet there is no sure cure, so it is important to do what you can to safeguard the health of your joints and to treat the symptoms as best you can when they do occur.