The Joint Jeopardizer!

Arthritis is the general terminology which is used to characterize nearly 100 diseases and disorders of the body joints, connective tissue and also internal organs. The types of arthritis can be classified into different categories depending on the causes for arthritic conditions namely autoimmune disorders (wherein the immune system attacks its own body parts), genetically inherited disorders, microbial or viral infections, due to certain types of medication and drugs, due to general wear and tear (old age) and due to improper diet.

Arthritis is highly prevalent in populations all over the world, be it young or old. The people who generally fall in the high-risk category are those aged above 50, obese, working on stressful jobs like clerical workers, IT professionals, dancers and sportspersons. Arthritis is estimated to be the top degenerative disease in USA, with 1 out of 7 people becoming incapacitated. The major types of arthritic diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Lyme disease, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and many more.

The arthritis of joints is primarily caused due to inflammation of the synovial membrane lining between joints and tendons. The synovial membrane secretes a lubricating fluid called the synovial fluid which is responsible for the smooth movement between the heads of various joints. Its deficiency leads to swollen joints, stiffness and subsequent loss of mobility of the joints. Another form of rheumatoid arthritis affecting children is termed as Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) or Still's Disease. This occurs in adolescents below 16 years of age and maybe curable or chronic and its manifestation maybe limited to impairment of a few joints or can be a full-blown systemic disorder.

Arthritis can also affect specific joints like that of the neck, knee, hip and fingers. The joint disorder of neck is termed cervical spondylosis. This is caused due to wear and tear of the cartilage which acts as a cushion between the neck and vertebrae. Leg arthritis affects joints of the knee, ankle and feet and poses innumerable difficulties while walking, climbing stairs or even to simply sit down. Hip arthritis is induced mainly after the onset of osteoarthritis.

One may wonder how to discern arthritic pain from any other possible joint inflammation since the effects of this disorder is manifold with ramifications. In the case of degenerative form of arthritis, the symptoms observed are persistence of joint pain for more than 3 days, reddening and heating up of skin surrounding the joint, severe muscle pain, fever and sudden loss of weight.

Numerous treatment options are available and still being developed to minimize the degradation caused by arthritis and in some cases, to completely cure the condition. For extreme cases, total joint replacement surgery is the only option. However, it is indeed possible to alleviate the symptoms by adopting healthy lifestyle and proper eating habits. Low impact aerobics, yoga, and endurance exercises greatly improve bone and muscle strength thereby reducing stiffness. Consumption of dietary supplements like vitamin E, omega 3 fatty acids and glucosamine right from young age can go a long way in reducing the impact of arthritis in old age.