What is Arthritis?
The literal meaning is "joint inflammation". The symptoms are pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints. Arthritis can also affect muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments, as well as some internal organs.
What causes Arthritis?
There are currently no known causes for the many different types of arthritis. Research is focusing on looking at what roles genetics and lifestyle behaviors may play in causing arthritis, but there are several risk factors that have been identified that can increase the chances of arthritis:
- Age: Arthritis is the leading cause of physical disability among adults 18 years of age and older;
- Gender: In general, Arthritis occurs more frequently in women than in men;
- Obesity: Increases the chances of getting OsteoArthritis (OA), particularly for women. There is a clear link between obesity and the development of OA of the knee in women;
- Work factors: Work-related repetitive injury and physical trauma contribute to the development of OA. If you have a strenuous job that requires repetitive bending, kneeling, or squatting, you are at high risk for OA of the knee.
What does Arthritis feel like?
The pain of Arthritis may come from inflammation of the synovial membrane (tissue that lines the joints), the tendons, or the ligaments; muscle strain; and fatigue. If these factors are combined, it can intensify the pain.People react differently to pain for several reasons such as emotional, social or physical conditions. Activities also affect pain differently. One can note pain after prolonged use of the joint while others feel pain immediately after rising from sleep.
What is pain?
Pain is the body's warning system, alerting you that something is wrong. The International Association for the Study of Pain defines it as an unpleasant experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage to a person's body. Specialized nervous system cells (neurons) that transmit pain signals are found throughout the skin and other body tissues. These cells respond to things such as injury or tissue damage. Pain "tells" you that you need to do something. For example, when a harmful agent such as a sharp knife comes in contact with your skin, chemical signals travel from neurons in the skin through nerves in the spinal cord to your brain, where they are interpreted as pain.
Pain is more common than you think.
In a poll by The Gallup Organization from May 21-June 9, 1999, nine out of ten Americans reported they have pain at least once a month, and for 15 percent of them, the pain is severe. You should also know that nearly 43 million Americans are affected by Arthritis. Based on predictions of population growth, in 2020 an estimated 60 million Americans will have some form of Arthritis.
OsteoArthritis (OA) is the most common type and affects more than 20 million Americans. It begins with the breakdown of cartilage in joints, resulting in joint pain and stiffness.
How to cope with Arthritis pain
You are the main participant in the process to manage your pain. There are some things that may help you to cope with your pain. Some of them are just related to your attitude - keeping a positive attitude and humor can make you feel better. Others are alternatives techniques such as hot and cold treatments, appropriate exercise and wise use of joints, counseling and other supports, physical therapy, cognitive- behavioral therapy, occupational therapy, relaxation (deep breathing, meditation and biofeedback for example) and other pain management techniques (massage and topical lotions for example).
Having a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and staying aware about new research about pain management can also help you to cope with your Arthritis pain.
The goals of these methods are to control pain by learning new ways to reduce it, taking as few pain medicines as possible, changing pain habits that disrupt your normal lifestyle and increasing your physical and social activity so you can return, as much as possible, to an active life.
The information in this website is intended for residents of the United States only. It is not intended to take the place of a doctor's advice or to replace product labeling. Use all products as directed.
