What is arthritis? How is arthritis treated?

What is arthritis and how arthritis is treated are two questions that many people around the world try to find answers to.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is a chronic or acute condition that manifests as inflammation and pain of the joints.

There are a multitude of factors that generate arthritis and depending on these are currently known about 100 types of arthritis

More than 350 million people worldwide have arthritis.

What are the factors that cause arthritis?

The mains causes of arthritis are:

-genetic factors,

-accidental joint injuries,

-degenerative joint injuries,

-metabolic disorders,

-autoimmune disorders,

-infections

What are the most common forms of arthritis?

–Osteoarthritis occurs through mechanical, wear, or accidental erosion of the cartilages that line the bone heads

–Inflammatory arthritis – is caused by a dysfunction of the immune system that generates inflammation without a known cause. Examples of inflammatory arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, arthritis associated with colitis or psoriasis

–Infectious arthritis is caused by infection with a bacterium, virus, or fungus. The most common pathogens involved in septic arthritis are represented by Shigella, Salmonella, gonococcus, streptococcus (post-streptococcal reactive arthritis), staphylococcus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, chlamydia, hepatitis C virus, and various Candida species;

–Metabolic arthritis is caused by a disorder of metabolism that leads to an increase in the concentration of uric acid in the body. The body either produces too much uric acid or no longer has the ability to eliminate it quickly enough. Gout is the best-known form of metabolic arthritis.

–Connective tissue disease. The most common forms of connective tissue disease are lupus, systemic sclerosis, and dermatomyositis.

–Infantile arthritis – occurs at a very young age and is most often caused by immune system dysfunction.

What are the risk factors for arthritis?

The risk factors for arthritis are 2 types: controllable factors and uncontrollable factors.
Controllable factors include:

– excessive weight,

– activities that expose trauma,

– activities that put excessive strain on the joints.
Uncontrollable factors are:

-age,

-sex,

-genetic factors

How is arthritis treated?

The treatment for arthritis aims :

–To reduce pain and inflammation

Medicines with analgesic and/or anti-inflammatory effects in the form of pills, injections or ointments are used to reduce pain and inflammation.

–Improve mobility

 Improving mobility is done through interventions complementary to drug treatment, and includes physiotherapy, exercise, and the use of assistive equipment to support the joints.

–Joint reconstruction or even joint fusion

Reconstruction of the joints and fusion of the joints is done through surgery

–Control of immune system.

The control of the immune system is done by corticosteroids or modifiers of the biological response medicines.

Arthritis prevention

The prevention of arthritis is possible insofar as it is generated by controllable factors. For arthritis generated by uncontrollable factors, the control of factors that worsen the symptoms is sought.

Controllable factors include reducing exposure to trauma or wear and tear and avoiding infections with bacteria, viruses, or fungi that can cause arthritis as much as possible.

Factors that have an effect on the symptoms of arthritis caused by uncontrollable factors are a diet too rich in foods containing purines, smoking, or eating foods containing gluten. Eliminating them, even if they do not treat arthritis, can greatly reduce the symptoms.

Dietary supplements and natural remedies that can help in the treatment of arthritis:

Complementary to the main treatment in arthritis there are a few supplements that in time prove to be helpful in controlling the pain and the inflammation like:

-Omega 3

-Turmeric

-Vitamin C

-Vitamin D

-Glucosamine sulfate

-Collagen

-Calcium

-Boswellia

-Ginger

-Eucalypt

-Cinnamon

Before being used, it should be discussed with the medical team which decides the basic treatment.

Diet and lifestyle of patients with arthritis or for people which want to avoid it.

It is important for people suffering from arthritis to have as active a life as possible, to maintain normal body weight, and to try to maintain their muscular system with light exercises.

The diet of people suffering from arthritis should be balanced to contain all the elements necessary for a healthy bone system and at the same time not include those foods that can flare up arthritis. Each body is different and responds differently to certain stimuli, so it is very important to identify foods that cause inflammation in each case.

It is generally recognized that a diet rich in fish, vegetables, and dairy is indicated. But the best approach is for each patient to individualize their diet according to their body’s response to food.

Important:

  Arthritis is a condition that is not fully reversible but there are many ways to deal with it to can live the fullness of life.

     Do not ignore it.

     Look for medical support as well as alternative medicines and procedures.

     Use anti-inflammatory medication but not only that.

     Find relevant, trusty information and get in touch with communities of patients and professionals involved in it.