Arthritis is a general term for several chronic and painful joint disorders.
It affects people in different ways, depending on the type. The two most common
forms are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects about 1% of the population. People
of any age can get it, but the condition most often strikes women between the
ages of 25 and 55. Rheumatoid arthritis is considered to be an autoimmune
disorder because the body attacks its own joints, starting with the tissues
that line and cushion them. This causes inflammation and, eventually, scarring
as the cartilage, bone, and ligaments slowly erode. No one knows for sure why
this happens, but research is ongoing.
This type of arthritis usually first shows up in the hands and feet, and then
moves into other joints in the body. As the joints become inflamed, scar-like
tissue forms in them causing joint stiffness. As arthritis progresses, joints,
especially those of the fingers and toes, may become bent and distorted.
Some of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
- fatigue
- weight loss
- joint pain, especially first thing in the morning or after long periods
of rest
- joint swelling that lasts for hours
- low-grade fever
- round, painless nodules (bumps) under the skin
Osteoarthritis is the type many of us think of when we hear "arthritis"
and it's the most common form. Because it usually affects people as they age
- the result of years of wear and tear in the joint, excess weight, or prior
injuries - it's also called degenerative arthritis. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis
in which swelling occurs and scar tissue forms, osteoarthritis attacks the cartilage
(the cushioning that acts as shock absorbers in the joints) and breaks it down,
resulting in pain as the bones rub against each other. In the past, we believed
that even normal, healthy amounts of exercise could cause osteoarthritis. New
research has shown that this is not true - normal amounts of exercise are good
for your joints. Talk to your doctor about how much exercise you should be getting
and which types are best for you.
Osteoarthritis appears in men and women equally before the age of 55. After
age 55, however, more women than men develop it. Most people over 65 have some
form of this disorder, but only a third actually experience symptoms.
This condition generally affects the hands, knees, hips and feet. It may show
up in the spine as well; doctors think there may be a genetic link to arthritis
in the spine, especially when it also develops in the hands.
Some of the symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
- pain that seems to come from deep within the joint
- grating or crunching sounds from a joint during movement
- bumps or swelling on the fingers
- stiffness in the joints, especially after resting
Other, less common types of arthritis include:
- psoriatic arthritis, which affects people who have psoriasis
- gout, which generally occurs in men, results from a build-up of
uric acid that accumulates around certain joints, particularly the big toe