What is arthritis?

Updated 28 August 2014th

Written and reviewed by a Board Certified physician. See the Medical Review Board About.com.

Many people think that Arthritis is one disease, but it is not. Arthritis literally means "joint inflammation" and refers to a group of more than 100

rheumatic diseases and related conditions associated with joint pain, stiffness and swelling.

Some arthritic conditions, the parts of the joints of the body. For example, tendons, muscles and skin are inflamed and painful. Some rheumatic diseases can affect the internal organs and to debilitating or fatal complications.

The two most common types of arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Since both are classified as arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis vary considerably and should be distinguished.

Many people believe that arthritis is a disease. Solely on the elderly In fact, arthritis can anyone of any age, also affect children. The incidence of arthritis increases with age, but nearly three out of every 5 people with arthritis than 65 years.

If undiagnosed and untreated, many types of arthritis can cause irreversible damage to the joints, bones, organs and skin. It is essential for the early diagnosis of the disease, and the appropriate treatment. Knowing your type of arthritis is essential.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease as a result of wear of the joint. Cartilage damage developed, which may lead to a reduced function of the joints. The first symptoms of osteoarthritis are:

• Joint pain
• Joint sensitivity
• swollen joints
• decreased motion

Usually osteoarthritis is subtle and insidious onset, the one or only a few joints. The joints most commonly affected are the following:

Increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis with age. Other risk factors include joint trauma, obesity and repetitive joint use.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the (cells lining the joint) of the body of the synovium occurs. Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of chronic inflammatory arthritis and disabling. The first signs of the disease are:

• Joint pain
• Stiffness
• swollen joints
• Loss of joint function

Although the cause is difficult, doctors suspect that genetic factors play a role in disease susceptibility. But there is more genetic predisposition. It is believed that environmental triggers for rheumatoid arthritis.

Juvenile Arthritis

Juvenile arthritis is a general term for all types of arthritis. In children, occurring 16 years or less Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the most frequent form of arthritis in children. There are three main types of JRA:

Signs and symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis vary from child to child. A single test can definitively diagnose. Juvenile arthritis must be present continuously for six or more consecutive before a correct diagnosis can be made week.

Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis resembles rheumatoid arthritis. About 5% of people with psoriasis (chronic skin disease) also develop psoriatic arthritis. In psoriatic arthritis, inflammation of the joints and the spine sometimes.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a painful disease characterized by:

Fibromyalgia is characterized by pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons. Fibromyalgia is a kind of soft tissue or muscle caused rheumatism and joint deformities.

Drop

Gout is a type of arthritis pain, the sudden bouts of severe pain, tenderness, redness, warmth and swelling of the joints, caused especially the big toe. The pain and swelling associated with the drop, caused by uric acid crystals that precipitate from the blood and deposited in the joint.

Pseudogout / CPPD

Pseudogout, the (CPPD) is also known as calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease is known, caused by deposits of calcium phosphate crystals (uric acid) without joints. CPPD is often confused with gouty arthritis. Since gout CPPD is another disease, the treatment is not the same.

Scleroderma

Scleroderma is a disease of the connective tissue in the body that causes a thickening and hardening of the skin. It may also refer to:

• O
• Blood vessels
• Viscera

There are two types of scleroderma: localized and generalized (systemic).

Lupus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that can include:

• Skin
• Kidneys
• Blood vessels
• O
• Nervous system
• Heart
• other internal organs

The symptoms vary, but may cause skin rashes, arthritis, fever, anemia, fatigue, hair loss, mouth ulcers and kidney problems. Symptoms usually occur in women of childbearing age, but can occur in children or elderly. About 90% of those affected are women.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve at the wrist causes tingling and numbness in the fingers caused. Not or to other related diseases - it may gradually or suddenly begin and may be associated with other diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the spine, the vertebrae can cause melting, whereby a rigid column. Other compounds which may be involved in addition to the spine.

Ankylosing is a consequence of inflammation, which usually begins in the tissue outside the joint. , The common first symptoms of lumbar spondylitis with pain and stiffness that are continued for months.

The exact cause is unknown, but most people have a genetic marker known as HLA-B27 spondylitis. This genetic marker does not mean that a person spondylitis develop, but the people with the score are more likely to develop the disease. Ankylosing Spondylitis usually affects men between 16 and 35, but can also affect women.

Bursitis / tendonitis

Bursitis is a condition caused by inflammation of the bursa bag. Scholarships are fluid-filled sacs in areas where muscles and tendons glide over bones. Tendinitis, also spelled Tendinitis is an inflammation of a tendon. Tendons connect muscles to bones.

Infectious arthritis

Infectious arthritis is a form of arthritis caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. The diagnosis is made by culturing the organism from the joint.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a serious disease transmitted by ticks. Lyme disease can affect:

• O
• Nervous system
• Heart
• Skin
• View

Reactive arthritis

Reactive arthritis, also called Reiter's syndrome, inflammation of the joints and sometimes where tendons and ligaments to bone to fix known.

Sjogren's Syndrome

Sjögren's syndrome is characterized by dysfunction of the moisture-producing glands causing dry mouth and eyes in. Other parts of the body may be affected, what. In a variety of symptoms

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis in the loss of bone tissue, wherein the less dense and prone to fracture. Osteoporosis is a silent disease that are often avoided.

Other conditions

_Sources:

_{Timely treatment for arthritis Ageless disease, FDA Consumer May-June 2000}

_{Do I have arthritis? NIAMS. März of 2010.}