Arthritis: Types, Causes and Symptoms

Bones are the structures that keep our bodies in motion, thinking about it, we also think right away that we use our bones a lot every day throughout our lives. And if we spend so much, surely an hour they end up having problems, especially when we don’t take care of ourselves properly, but not only. This is what happens with arthritis , a disease that mainly affects the elderly, but that can also affect other people. But how to treat this evil? First, we need to know exactly what the disease is.

What is Arthritis?

Contrary to what many think arthritis is not just a disease . It is the name given to several problems. Inflammations that hinder a person’s movement. These inflammations usually affect the joints of the body, more specifically the cartilages that are there, causing our bones to wear out and cause greater problems.

This type of disease that affects many more women than men , mostly elderly people. There is no cure for this type of inflammation, but there are ways to control arthritis so that it does not cause too much damage in our lives.

Types of Arthritis

As we mentioned earlier, it is not just a disease, but several types of inflammation, so there are many types of arthritis. Are they:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Pyogenic Arthritis
  • Degenerative Arthritis

Let’s talk more deeply about each of these types of arthritis to better understand what their effects are on our bodies and what are the differences between them.

Rheumatoid arthritis

It is a disease caused by the immune system . It attacks a person’s cartilage, causing swelling and redness, as well as causing difficulty in movement in various situations.

Osteoarthritis

This type of arthritis is very common and can have several causes: Excess weight, some injury, genetic predisposition or even the natural wear and tear of cartilage. It also causes a lot of pain and difficulty in movement due to the stiffness in the affected person’s bones.

Pyogenic Arthritis

Caused by bacteria, it is the type of arthritis that can most cause problems for the person who has it, and because of that, its treatment needs to be intense from the beginning. It mainly affects the knees and shoulders, causing severe pain, but is less common in joints such as elbows and ankles.

Degenerative Arthritis

This type of disease causes the growth of bones and, consequently, a lot of pain in movement. Mainly affecting the knees, thighs and spinal column, degenerative arthritis is a chronic disease.

Causes of Arthritis

As there are many forms of arthritis to manifest, there are also several factors that can cause this type of disease. The main causes of arthritis are:

  • Repetitive movements – Like workouts performed in excess, which ends up compromising the joints.
  • Overweight – Obesity is one of the factors that can cause the joints to wear out, causing problems such as arthritis.
  • Genetic predisposition – It is common for the disease to develop more in people who are genetically prone to develop them. For that reason, prevention should be done more strictly in these cases.
  • Trauma – A person who has suffered some type of injury that has affected one or more of their joints may end up developing arthritis even if later.

Symptoms of Arthritis

Although there are many types of arthritis, some symptoms are common to all of them and can help you to identify if you are suffering from the disease. The main ones are:

  • Severe joint pain
  • Swelling in the joints
  • Redness in the region of the joints
  • Difficulty and pain when moving
  • aa

Although the appearance of these symptoms does not directly signal that you have arthritis, they can be a signal for you to see a doctor so that the correct diagnosis is made.

How is the diagnosis made?

The orthopedic doctor is responsible for making the diagnosis and confirming whether a person really has arthritis. The first thing a doctor does in these cases is to analyze the person’s bone structure, using clinical signs and x-ray exams.

In some cases, it is necessary to have an MRI or CT scan. Still, the diagnosis is only made after a combination of these tests and a conversation between doctor and patient so that their complaints are understood correctly.

Risk factors

There are some groups that are more at risk of developing arthritis than others. The main risk factors for this disease are:

  • Women, since the disease affects them much more than men.
  • Constant injuries and trauma can cause you to develop some type of arthritis.
  • Native American people tend to suffer more from the disease than other types.
  • White people tend to have more arthritis than blacks and Orientals.
  • Obesity is also a risk factor.
  • Family history, since genetic predisposition is one of the causes of the disease.

How is Arthritis Treated?

The treatment of this type of disease is done through physiotherapies and medically controlled by the doctor. Each specific case will require a type of medicine and a type of physiotherapy, always aiming at the cause of the disease. The main function of treating the disease is to end the pain, or at least decrease it, as there is no cure for arthritis.

How to Prevent Arthritis?

As we mentioned earlier, there are several causes that can lead a person to develop arthritis. And many of them can be controlled, at least partially, to prevent the disease from reaching you. Some of the main ways to prevent arthritis are:

  • Stretching
  • Have a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables
  • Exercise regularly and correctly
  • Always stay hydrated

When this disease is not treated, several consequences can occur, making simple activities uncomfortable and forcing you to change your lifestyle, sometimes radically. The good news is that it is always possible to try to reverse this situation by performing the correct treatment indicated by an orthopedic doctor and maintaining a healthy life.

The practice of exercises such as walking and water aerobics is an example of how to help fight the bad ones that arthritis brings with it. But be careful, do not try too hard or the clinical picture may end up getting worse. Living with arthritis is possible and, even if it has no cure, it may not disrupt your life very much. Perform the treatment correctly and maintain good lifestyle habits so that this is not a big stone in your shoe.

See Also: Food Poisoning in Pregnancy – Is It Dangerous?

Website | + posts

My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.

Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.

Dr. Alexis Hart

My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts