Arthritis
Description
Arthritis is not just one condition, it is a category under which well over 100 actual conditions
are listed. Some of the most commonly known and prevalent conditions include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid
arthritis and gout.
Arthritis occurs when a part of the joint becomes inflamed and/or swollen, causing pain stiffness and difficulty in
movement.
Statistics
Over 7 million adults in the UK have long-term health problems due to arthritis and related
conditions Chronic joint symptoms affect around 70 million Americans
Causes
Due to the sheer number of different types of arthritis it is hard to know the full extent of
causes, but most arthritic symptoms are the result of a specific original underlying cause.
There have been discoveries of genetic components where the gene responsible for enabling cartilage to produce
collagen is missing or malfunctioning.
Diagnosis
Initial joint pain and stiffness is usually your first indication of a potential problem.
Should this continue there may be need to address the problem as more than just a ‘strain’, muscular
‘pull’ or ‘trapped nerve’.
Signs & Symptoms
Symptoms are not the same for everyone. Occurrence and severity
may differ depending on the type of arthritis involved and your overall health status.
Conventional Treatments
Under conventional medicine drug therapy and physiotherapy are usually recommended to try to
retain levels of mobility in the joints. NSAIDs are the normal drugs of choice for arthritis, rheumatoid
arthritis and osteoarthritis.
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