Arthritis << ahr THRY tihs >> is any of more than 100 diseases of the joints. People with arthritis often experience pain, stiffness, and swelling in their joints. Many people are crippled by arthritis. Individuals of all ages and backgrounds can be affected by the disease.
The terms arthritis and rheumatism are often used interchangeably. However, rheumatism is a more general term that refers to a variety of disorders of the joints, muscles, and connecting tissues. The two chief forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis,
also called degenerative joint disease, occurs when a joint wears out. Many elderly people have osteoarthritis, and the disease may also occur if a joint has been injured many times. The joints most frequently affected are those of the hands, hips, knees, lower back, and neck. Severe disability may result, especially if the hips or knees are badly diseased.
People with osteoarthritis have pain in the affected area and may feel a grating sensation when they move. In advanced osteoarthritis, the cartilage between bones breaks down, causing those bones to rub against each other. Knobs of bone and of hardened bits of cartilage may develop in the joint, causing swelling and deformity.
Physicians treat patients to relieve pain and prevent disability from osteoarthritis. Treatment usually includes drugs, such a aspirin or ibuprofen, and special programs of exercise. Surgeons may repair or replace some severely damaged joints. A new class of drugs called Cox-2 inhibitors are also effective in relieving the pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis. However, scientists have found that high dosages of these drugs may increase the risk for heart attack and stroke. Medical experts recommend that people consult a physician before taking any medication to treat osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis
is one of the more common chronic illnesses in adults. People usually develop the disease between the ages of 20 and 40, but children or elderly people can also develop rheumatoid arthritis.
Joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis are warm, painful, red, and swollen. The disorder commonly affects the wrists and knuckles, but it may occur in any joint. In some cases, rheumatoid arthritis spreads throughout the body, damaging organs and connective tissue. If it remains unchecked, the diseased joints eventually stiffen in deformed positions. Rheumatoid arthritis may remain throughout the patient’s life or disappear for varying periods.
In rheumatoid arthritis, inflamed tissue and other substances in a joint can erode the bone and cartilage. Physicians believe the disease is caused by autoimmunity (the body’s attack on its own tissues) (see Immune system). Some people inherit a tendency toward rheumatoid arthritis.
Effective drug treatments have been developed for rheumatoid arthritis. Some medications treat the immediate symptoms of pain and joint inflammation, while others work to slow the progression of the disease. It is important to treat rheumatoid arthritis early. Additional treatments include exercise programs, rest, physical and occupational therapy, and surgery.
Other forms of arthritis
include gout, ankylosing spondylitis, and septic arthritis. Gout victims suffer repeated flare-ups of painful swelling, but they feel well between attacks. The bunion joint, which connects the big toe and the foot, is affected first in most cases. Gout is caused by the presence of too much uric acid in the blood. During an attack, this chemical takes the form of needle-shaped crystals in the joints. Some people inherit gout. Alcoholic beverages and rich food can lead to an attack in people who have gout, but they do not cause the disease. Doctors prescribe drugs to reduce inflammation and prevent further attacks. See Gout.
Ankylosing spondylitis attacks the spine. It mainly affects people between the ages of 17 and 35, and males are affected more than females. The spinal joints become inflamed, and the patient may develop a rigid, stooped back. Treatment consists of physical therapy and drugs.
Septic arthritis is infection of a joint by bacteria. Its most common forms occur after a lung or skin infection, surgery on the joint, or any of several sexually transmitted diseases. In most cases, early treatment with antibiotic drugs prevents crippling.
See also Glucosamine and chondroitin; Rheumatology.
