Welcome to the Central Arthritis Disease Assocation |
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Arthritis, What should you know?What is arthritis? Arthritis strictly means inflamation of the joints, though its widely used to describe a number of joint diseases. What are the main types of arthritis? Osteoarthritis, which accounts for around 70 percent of all diagnosed types of arhtritis. Rheumatoid arthritis. Gout. What are the symptoms of arthritis? Osteoarthritis - pain and stiffness specially after prolonged inactivity. It commonly affects the large weight-bearing joints such as the hips, knees and lumbar (spine). Fingers and the base of the thumb may also be affected. Rheumatoid - fatigue, weight loss, nausea, fever-generally unwell. Pain in the joints and muscles plus swelling and tenderness. Early morning stiffness (EMS) is a common feature. Multiple joints are often affected by the disease in a symetrical fashion. What causes Arthritis? The answer is unknown, But research into the causes is going on all the time. Theres some suggestion that rheumatoid arthritis could be viral, affecting the immune system. Osteoarthritis can often be the result of an orthopaedic injury, or a joint injury sustained in one's youth, or even abuse of a joint. After middle age, most people will have some form of mild osteoarthritis in their bodies. Is Arthritis an inherited desease? There is no medical evidece that it is inherited. Rheumatoid can sometimes be termed a familiar disease. The other people can only be the only ones in their family for three generations to suffer from it. This predisposition in families is not a genetic link. Certain families are prone to being overweight and this can oviously axacerbate the effects of osteoarthritis in the hips, knees, and feet. Can climate affect the arthritis? There's no evidence of this. Arthritis is no less common in warmer climates than colder ones. How ever cold damp conditions do tend to produce some arthritic conditions. Can children develop Arthritis? Yes. Its called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and can affect children in any age. Can stress cause Arthritis? No. Stress might, however influence the severity of the desease and may precipitate flare-up symptoms. As stress levels increase, rheumatoid symtoms may intensify. Is there any diet that will cure Arthritis? There is no scientific evidence that any diet will cure rheumatoid arthritis. There's no evidence that acid foods or the nightshade group of vegetables (tomatoes) are detrimental to arthritis, or alcohol either. If any of these substances disagree with an individual, they should eliminate them from their diet.
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More Information Osteoarthritis
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