Recognizing the Symptoms of Arthritis
You want to recognize the symptoms of arthritis because this disease makes everyday tasks difficult and painful. Walking, driving, washing dishes and shopping can become challenging.
Surprising Facts about Arthritis
- Arthritis affects 54.4 million American adults. That means about 1 in 4 adults have arthritis.
- Children can also get arthritis.
- There are more than 100 different types of arthritis. Symptoms vary widely between the types of disease.
Symptoms of Arthritis
With most types of arthritis, you’ll find that the affected joints are painful and stiff. The most common forms of the disease are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In osteoarthritis, cartilage in the joints begins to deteriorate. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition. This disease targets the linings of the joints. Arthritis isn’t only about painful joints. There can be other signs. Sjögren’s syndrome is characterized by very dry eyes and mouth. Adult-onset Stills disease causes high fevers and a faint, pink-peach rash. Other common types of arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and fibromyalgia.
If you have arthritis, you most likely have:
- Pain or stiffness in joints
- Redness around joints
- Constrained range of motion in affected joints
- Bumps or lumps around joints
Your doctors will give you a physical examination and diagnose arthritis using your medical history, X-rays, and blood tests.
What causes arthritis?
Experts don’t know the causes of many forms of arthritis. However, we do know that too much uric acid in the body leads to gout. It’s very probable that genetics, lifestyle, and environment also lead to arthritis.
How can I Ease the Symptoms of Arthritis?
There are several treatments available to help relieve your symptoms and improve the function of your joints. Here are some that you might want to try out:
- Medications like anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics
- Physical therapy and surgery to repair or replace joints
- Massage and acupuncture
Exercise and the Symptoms of Arthritis
Physical activity is good for everyone and especially for people with arthritis. Regular exercise can relieve pain and stiffness in your joints. It will give you more energy, lift your mood and make you feel more positive. You may find that you have to change how active you are depending on the symptoms of your arthritis. Don’t become discouraged because some physical activity is better than none.