Arthritis – Types of Arthritis

Arthritis is unfortunately very common and painful condition. People can work and life, including base very difficult. For treatment to be effective in combating the symptoms and allow the victim to live as normal a life as possible, is essential to correctly diagnose the type of arthritis is present. The two most common types of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are quite different in character and completely different methods of diagnosis and various treatment methods.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that affects as many as one in every hundred people. It is caused by a malfunction in the body’s defense systems and nobody has been able to figure out why this happens. The genes that are responsible for the problem have been identified – but the exact means by which the problem occurs remains unknown. The disease is not hereditary, no increased risk was found if you have a victim’s immediate family. Extra blood flow in rheumatoid arthritis causes joints to become inflamed and painful and in extreme cases can even cause irreversible damage to the joint. It is important to seek medical help to reduce inflammation, such as joint damage is permanent and irreversible.

Osteoarthritis is a completely different disease, which affects the bones. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, there is apparently no genetic factor involved in osteoarthritis, although there are several factors that increase the risk of developing the condition. Osteoarthritis is rare in young people, suggesting that in some cases, the thinning of the bones that causes the disease to develop. Overweight people are much more susceptible to disease, especially in the knee joints, suggesting that excess effort put into an area of the joint movement will be an important factor in the incorporation of the condition. Joint stiffness is the main symptom of osteoarthritis.

Although these two forms of arthritis account for the vast majority of patients, in fact, there are over two hundred different types, these types affect all sectors of the population, young and old alike. Some forms of the disease such as ankylosing spondylitis, affecting more men than women – which is in direct contrast to the two main types that affect women more. Systemic lupus erythematosus, another very common form of arthritis, is at number nine times that of women than men. One of the most common forms of arthritis, often seen as a completely different disease is gout. This is extremely painful problem caused by uric acid and is at least controllable with proper treatment. Sometimes arthritis can be a purely reactive condition caused by other medical condition. In this case, symptoms usually disappear on their own will, always, whenever there has been no permanent damage.

Since arthritis comes in so many forms, is essential for a correct diagnosis before attempting to treat the condition. The first port of call is usually the general practitioner who will often be able to do some basic tests immediately. Usually, however, the patient will be sent to a local hospital for blood tests and x-rays. In the largest medical centers more advanced tests may be available and specialists in the disease may be on hand to advise you. Once a correct diagnosis has been completed, there is much that modern medicine can do to ease the pain of the condition and allow the patient to live a normal life, even if arthritis really can not be cured permanently.