How Arthritis Affects the Health of Joints

Arthritis is a condition that has a large impact on the overall health of joints. There are nearly two hundred different types of arthritic conditions in which a person may suffer from. In this article, you will learn just what kind of impact that arthritis has on joint health.

Arthritis is a term that literally means “inflammation” within the area of the joints. This inflammation can be extremely troublesome to the general health of joints in the body. This is because this area of the body was not created to withstand the complications of inflammation.

Joints are created in such a way that two bones meet. The bones that come together to form the joint are covered in a material that helps to ensure the overall health of joints in that particular location. This material is called “cartilage”.

The cartilage serves the purpose of actually providing a type of insulation to the joint area. Without this material ensuring the health of joints, not only would our mobility be greatly inhibited, but our movements would prove to be extremely painful.

There is also an additional component that serves as a supplement to the health of joints. This is called “synovium”. The purpose of this component is to generate synovial fluid that will assist in reduction of friction among the joints.

In addition to this, the health of joints is also dependent upon various muscles and ligaments when it comes to movement. When the health of joints is affected by the devastation of arthritis, it may become difficult for the joints to move as they should.

Arthritic conditions cause poor health of joints. As a matter of fact, these types of medical problems are among the leading causes of disability in the United States alone. This is basically a result of the many symptoms associated with arthritis.

The following will detail information regarding the many symptoms associated with the devastating condition of arthritis that greatly impacts the health of joints. If you find that you have any of the symptoms listed below, you should discuss it with a doctor.

1) Pain is the most common symptom associated with arthritis. This can occur in the actual area of the joints in the body, or it can appear in other areas of the body.

2) Many individuals suffer from swelling in the joint area when the health of joints is affected. This is because the immune system will send out messages to repair the area and the synovial fluid increases in this area.

3) If an individual suffers from arthritis, it is very common for that individual to suffer from stiffness. This stiffness may result in the mobility of the area to become restricted.

4) The area in which the health of joints is affected may become red and warm to the touch. Once again, this is a direct result of the inflammation that is occurring within this area.

5) Individuals who experience the complications of arthritis may find that it is extremely tender in the joint area. This could be a result of the inflammation, or it could be the result of damage that is affecting the health of the joints.

There are many different causes when it comes to arthritis and the impact that it has on the health of joints. Many medical professionals feel that there may be a genetic predisposition to this particular condition. Others believe that arthritis develops based on particular lifestyle habits of an individual.

There are many different risks that may have an impact on the health of joints. These factors include the individual’s age, if a person is overweight, the gender of a person, as well as what types of work conditions that individual experiences professionally. It is important to consider the risk factors you have to determine if you are susceptible to being diagnosed with an arthritic condition.

In order to determine if the health of joints is compromised by arthritis, many tests must be performed. Initially, a medical professional may begin with a family and personal medical history. This is required to determine the level of risk a person has in developing this joint disease.

From there, the doctor will generally do a physical to determine if there are any noticeable signs of the health of joints being compromised by arthritis. Symptoms may be noted at the time of the physical exam in which the doctor performs.

If there is a suspicion that arthritis is affecting the health of joints, various types of imaging tests may be performed. These tests may be as simple as a basic x-ray, or as thorough as a MRI. Many may even be subjected to a CAT scan. It all depends on what the doctor determines prior to ordering the tests.

In addition to the above testing procedures, many doctors may require samples of blood to be taken. This is often common practice because of the fact that it is a quick and simple means of getting a good look at your blood composite to make an official medical determination.

There are many different treatment methods that can be used to relieve the symptoms associated with this disease that affects the health of joints. Many people can simply rest and take over-the-counter medications to improve the mobility that they experience. These self-care techniques can also be used to alleviate the symptoms associated with arthritis.

There are a number of people, however, that may have to take specific prescription pain medications, endure physical and/or occupational therapy, and even surgery. It all depends as to what the extent of damage is as it pertains to the health of the joints of a specific person. No two treatments are exactly alike when it comes to arthritis.

While there is no cure for arthritis, there are many treatments available that will safely eliminate the amount of suffering an individual must endure as a result of the symptoms that are associated with arthritis. This offers hope to many who suffer from this disease that complicates the health of joints.

V.K. Rajagopalan is a full time Web Publisher. As a Platinum Publisher, he is credited with publishing many high quality, niche based articles at EzineArticles. He owns several Authority Sites in different niches.

Signs and Treatment of Your Dogs Arthritis

Dogs of varying breeds and sizes are vulnerable to different forms of arthritis. A nationwide survey of dogs in the U.S. indicates that one in every five dogs is affected by arthritis. Osteochondrosis, Hypertrophic Arthritis, Hip, Elbow, and Knee Dysplasia, Shoulder Degeneration, Kneecap Dislocation, Wrist Arthritis, Degenerative Joint Disease, and Osteoarthritis, the most common type, are diseases that may befall any dog but most especially large-breed dogs such as Rottweilers, German Shepherds and Great Danes as well as older dogs. Most arthritis types are progressive and exhibit only mild symptoms at the beginning which are often taken for granted. It is very important for dog-owners to be vigilant when it comes to spotting the early and subtle signs of arthritis in pets.

Though different dogs may exhibit signs of arthritis in varying degrees, the commonly cited symptoms of any arthritis type are stiffness, limping, reluctance to perform usual activities, conscious and cautious movement, and oversleeping. Dogs suffering from arthritis are reluctant when it comes to fetching sticks, greeting you by the doorway, running, and climbing the stairs. They usually respond adversely when touched especially on the body part affected by the arthritis. Also, arthritis – affected dogs tend to lag behind, easily tire, and stiffen in ordinary everyday activities such as walking or running. When a dog suffers from arthritis, he or she would prefer sleeping in a corner than playing around or outside the house. They also tend to rise slowly from any resting position. Lethargy in dogs is a sure sign of arthritis in most cases. These symptoms show that arthritis can greatly affect your dog’s lifestyle. As a matter of fact, arthritis also affects your dog’s health. Arthritis is a disease that affects the different joints in the dog’s body primarily. Secondary causes and effects could be one of the following: obesity, problems with metabolism, and immune system breakdown. Arthritis is usually caused by damages in joint parts specifically in the cartilage which pads the bony layer of joints. Damages to the cartilage often occur as a result of everyday wear and tear, an experience of a traumatic injury, malnutrition, obesity, an abnormality in joint structure, and genes.

The best treatment for your dog’s arthritis is to diagnose as soon as possible the condition because the earlier it is diagnosed, the earlier you can treat it. As said earlier, arthritis can be a progressive disease. Treating it in its most severe stage can be difficult and may require the application of invasive methods such as surgery. A safe and trusted therapy for arthritis in dogs is glucosamine and chondroitin therapy. Glucosamine dietary supplements such as Synflex Liquid Glucosamine have brought overwhelming success in managing and treating arthritis in pets. Synflex for Pets utilizes the most essential ingredients in the treatment of arthritis. Glucosamine is actually necessary in the synthesis of cartilage in the joints. Chondroitin, on the other hand enhances this synthesis and is known to block certain enzymes that inflame and damage the joints. Synflex Liquid Glucosamine has a formulation of other active ingredients that address inflammation in the joints. These anti-inflammatory ingredients provide your pet pain relief. Vitamins and nutrients in Syn-flex Liquid Glucosamine, on the other hand, help strengthens your pet’s immune system, thereby making them stronger and less susceptible to other diseases.

Bone Health – Arthritis and Osteoporosis

When it comes to the bone health issues such as Osteoporosis and Arthritis, there often can be the assumption that both of these conditions are similar bone problems, but this is far from being true. These are both bone diseases that needs further explaining, so that there is a better understanding of the both of these bone diseases for better bone health.

The data available on the specific bone disease of Osteoporosis, on the average at least 44 million individuals within the United States alone are known to have some form of Osteoporosis and more than 68% of these unfortunate individuals are women. Osteoporosis is a bone disease which attacks the tissue directly and leads to bone tissue loss. It causes the bones to lose the calcium density that normally protects us from bone fractures and breaks.

Some of the other very serious issues of concern with Osteoporosis can be loss of height, severe back pain and even deformity of the bones. Osteoporosis has been known to impair the body’s walking ability and in severe cases, there are permanent disability due to deformed bone structure.

If you are an excessive smoker or drink, you are more prone to this specific disease. If you are one that has an excessive lacking in physical activities, you will also be taking a bigger risk in a future of Osteoporosis. Your family history, constant lack of a calcium intake, and even some medications can eventually be the cause of Osteoporosis.

When it comes to the bone disease of Arthritis, this is just a blanket term pertaining to the specific problems directly relating to the joints and bone tissues between and around the bones. The two specific kinds of arthritis that tends to be the most common are specifically the bone disease of Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The very painful degenerative disease of the joints that pertains directly to Osteoarthritis commonly affects the hips, the knees, the neck, the lower back area, and the hand joints. Rheumatoid Arthritis is specifically an auto-immune inflammatory disease that may specifically cause the hands, wrists, elbows, knees, feet, ankles, and even the shoulders to swell, often be stiff to normal movements., It is also known to cause deformity of otherwise normal body movements.

The cause of this auto-immune disease is when the body decides to inappropriately release certain enzyme that attacks the healthy tissues of the body. There may be fatigue, fever, loss of weight, anemia, inflammation of the eyes, skin bumps, and even inflammation of the lungs.

What You Can Do About Arthritis Pain

In most forms of arthritis, the first treatments are aimed at relieving the symptoms such as pain, inflammation, and stiffness. Patients usually take arthritis pain medication over several years, especially in chronic inflammatory cases. There are several types of arthritis pain medication, from simple oral tablets to joint injections. The right pain relief drug should depend on the severity of the pain and the patient’s overall health. Arthritis pain medication may include one or more of the following:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDs are the used to alleviate pain and inflammation, especially in moderate to severe attacks. Some NSAIDs are also antipyretic, which makes them useful in cases accompanied by fever. Most NSAIDs are available over the counter, and patients are often allowed to try different brands to find the one that works best. However, they are known to cause gastrointestinal problems such as peptic ulcers and diarrhea. Scientists have developed newer NSAIDs that are gentler on the stomach, such as COX-2 inhibitors. However, they are believed to increase the risk of heart disease.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids, or simply steroids, are more potent than NSAIDs. They are usually reserved for severe cases when the heart or other vital organs are affected. Glucocorticoids are the most commonly used for arthritis pain medication. They can be taken orally or administered via joint injections.

Disease-modifying drugs (DMDs)

DMDs were developed for autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. They work by blocking the substances in the body believed to trigger autoimmune attacks. A smaller subclass, called disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), is used specifically for rheumatoid arthritis pain medication.

DMDs and DMARDs can effectively slow the progress of disease, but often have serious side effects. These include liver damage, low blood count, and an increased risk of bacterial infection. Doctors usually start with the mildest DMARD, methotrexate, and use others only when there are no improvements.

Biologic response modifiers (BRMs)

These are a class of drugs based on naturally occurring enzymes. Patients who do not respond to other arthritis pain medications are usually given BRMs. The most common BRM is the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha blocker, which inhibits the protein that triggers pain and inflammation response. BRM brand names include Enbrel, Humira, and Remicade.
BRM therapy can cause side effects such as fever, chills, weakness, and muscle aches. Depending on the type of BRM used, patients may have to stay in hospital during treatment in case of serious reactions.

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