The Alternative Health Gazette

Arthritis: An Overview

When you first hear the word arthritis, you probably associate it with little old ladies and old men swaying to and fro in their rocking chairs in their retirement. That is certainly a misconception. While most assuredly it’s a degenerative disease, which means it’s associated with the aging process, arthritis is not limited to the elderly.

Approximately 70 million Americans suffer from some form of arthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control. And while arthritis strikes three out of five people aged 65 and older, you’d be amazed at the number of younger people who show signs of this disease. Arthritis affects more than two out of every five individuals between the ages of 45 to 64. And of those between the ages of 18 to 44, one out of every five people suffers with arthritis. More amazing than that, nearly 300,000 children have some form of this disease as well.

In fact, that’s only the first of many misconceptions about arthritis. The next is that many of us think of it as the result of the normal wear and tear of our joints. And that’s true as far as that description goes. But arthritis goes so much further than that.

When we talk of arthritis, most often we’re referring to osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease most notably distinguished by the slow breaking down of the joint cartilage. While this disorder can affect any joint in your body, it most often affects fingers, hips, and knees. Initially, you may only notice that one joint is affected. Eventually, though, you’ll discover that other joints in the area will be affected as well.

But, arthritis is really a collection of nearly 100 different forms of osteoarthritis that include a multitude of different diseases from gout and rheumatoid arthritis to fibromyalgia, scleroderma and bursitis.

Arthritis develops slowly. Many people don’t experience any symptoms or signs during the development. Arthritis also strikes people a lot younger than they believe it should. Partly, this is caused by a changing life style. Damage to a joint when you’re younger can cause arthritis later in life. That’s why football players and others who have had bruises and broken bones are at greater risk.

You may be developing arthritis if you experience joint pain either during or after using it or after a period of inactivity. Additionally, swelling or stiffness in a joint may be an indication that the cartilage may be eroding. If you’re losing flexibility in your joints, that too, could be signal of a developing arthritis condition. Visible bony lumps on the middle or end joints of your fingers or at the base of your thumb may also be an indication of arthritis.

Some people claim that they can tell when the weather changes by the aches and pains in their bones. This is one statement about arthritis that is absolutely true.

Another characteristic of arthritis is that in its first year or so of appearing it strikes with a sharp almost knife-like pain. However, the intensity of this pain eventually subsides, changing into a more dull-like pain. However, if you injure or overuse the affected joint, you’ll notice that sharp pain returns.

Other Alternative Health Topics...
Arthritis Candida Colon Health Constipation Depression Diabetes Fungus hemmeroids hemmoroids hemoroids Hemorrhoids hemroids Herbal Basics Herbs Insomnia Joints Kidney Health Liver Health Menopause Metabolism piles Skin Care Womens Health Yeast Yeast Infections