Arthritis: Is It Hurting You?

Are you experiencing joint pains? Have you experienced your joints feeling creaky or stiff? Arthritis is a disease affecting millions of people all over the world. A lot of people are wondering if arthritis is part and parcel of growing old.

Arthritis is actually a disease which refers to about 100 other forms of diseases which affects the joints causing inflammation and making joint movements painful. One of the most common forms of arthritis is Osteoarthritis. This form of painful arthritis affects millions of people worldwide. This is actually a degenerative disease wherein the protective cartilage which covers the ends of our bone joints are slowly wearing away making every bone joint movements painful and bothersome.

Although osteoarthritis generally affects older individuals, this form of arthritis can also be seen in young people. The condition occurs in younger individuals especially in situations where the joints suffers from injury or overused. The joints which are most vulnerable to osteoarthritis due to overuse include the knees, hips, and spine- the weight bearing joints.

Although millions of people all over the world suffer from arthritis, it is still unknown why some people have more tendencies to experience the disease than others. Some of the factors which might play in the development of arthritis may include heredity, injury, and defective joints. There is actually no way to prevent the occurrence of the disease however, we can all stay physically active in order to minimize the development of arthritis and hopefully avoid the disease.

If you want to avoid arthritis as much as possible, try to follow your doctor’s advice and protect your joints from injury which is one of the probable cause of the onset of arthritis. Keep the symptoms of arthritis to the minimum by taking care of your joints and staying away from injury as much as possible.

You may already be suffering from joint pains when you experience some or all of the following:

1.  You are probably suffering from arthritis if one or more of your joints are swelling.

2.  If you experience stiffness especially during early morning, arthritis may already be showing some of its signs.

3.  If you feel pain and tenderness which often recurs, it might already be some form of arthritis.

4.  Some redness and warmth felt at the joint area probably signals the occurrence of arthritis

 

Finally, you might already be suffering from arthritis if you are experiencing sudden weight loss accompanied with fever and weakness coupled with joint pain.