Latest Health Forum Topics:

  • is oolong tea the same as wu long tea? (6 posts)
  • Do cavities always get worse even if taken care of? cuz I can't get to a dentist...? (6 posts)
  • why would I sneeze after being sick in the hospital? (3 posts)
  • what should i do? (9 posts)
  • Bates method of eye excerises ? (3 posts)
  • How old were you the first time you had intercourse? I was 16.? (16 posts)
  • Do the foods you eat effect the smell of semen? (7 posts)
  • what is a papsmear for & how is it done? (3 posts)
  • Can anyone recommend medication to combat fear of flying? (21 posts)
  • stomach problems...what could the cause be? (4 posts)
  • Teaching abstinance in schools... does it lower rates of STD's? (7 posts)
  • help me, my life is a mess? (6 posts)
  • Do you have to keep condoms in the cold? or warm? or what? (9 posts)
  • What is a tissue located in the hypodermis subcutaneous? (4 posts)
  • question about HIV/AIDS? (7 posts)
  •  

    Arthritis

    Contrary to in favor belief, arthritis is not just one disease. It is actually a complex disorder, comprising more than a hundred dissimilar conditions. It can influence any person at any stage of his life, whether he is generally healthy or suffering from some other form of degenerative disorder.

    The the bulk common forms of this disorder are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, each having very dissimilar causes, risk factors, and effects on the body, but the same average symptom: persistent pain in the joints.

    Osteoarthritis

    Osteoarthritis (OA) or degenerative arthritis, is a condition where pain springs up in the joints due to low grade inflammation. The cause is normally attributed to the wearing and tearing of the cartilage (hence it's more colloquial name "wear and tear"). The cartilage is that piece of tissue that covers and acts as a cushion inside joints. As the cartilage wears down, the bone surfaces between joints become less well protected, resulting in pain on the patient, particularly upon weight bearing, such as walking and standing.

    To avoid the pain, a patient may decrease his movements. However, this (the decreased movements) may indirectly result in certain conditions of the regional muscles, such as atrophy and lax ligaments.

    Osteoarthritis is the the bulk common form of arthritis, affecting nearly 21 million people in the United States. That accounts for 25% of visits to primary care physicians and half of an NSAID, or Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs, prescriptions.

    A Green 2001 health report has revealed that an estimated 80% of the population will have featured signs of osteoarthritis by age 65, evidenced by radiographic test. However, the same report said that only 60% would be symptomatic.

    Because the primary problem with osteoarthritis is the deterioration of the cartilage, which cannot ever grow back, there is unfortunately no cure for the condition. Treatment comprises of NSAIDs, local glucocorticoid injections, and in severe cases, with joint replace surgery. The goal is not to cure the disorder, which is irreversible, but to alleviate the joint pain, and in that regard, science has no shortage.

    Rheumatoid Arthritis

    The other form of arthritis, less average than OA, is rheumatoid arthritis or RA. It is a chronic, inflammatory auto immune disorder where the body's own immune system attacks the joints. Because of pain and joint destruction as a result of this condition, rheumatoid arthritis can lead to substantial loss of mobility as well as affect a lot extra articular tissues of the body, such as the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and muscles.

    The treatment approach for this form of arthritis is dissimilar from OA. In osteoarthritis, the goal is to alleviate the pain, in rheumatoid arthritis, there is actually a treatment that could halt disease progression.

    There are two approaches: one is the disease modifying antirheumatic drugs or DMARDs, and anti inflammatory agents and analgesics. The former is responsible for producing durable remissions and delay or even halting the disease from progressing. The latter only treats the pain resulting from the disorder.

    To determine what form of arthritis a patient suffers, X rays and blood tests are often performed on the affected joints. The type can be distinguished by the pace of the onset, the age and sex of the patient, the amount of joints affected, and additional symptoms like psoriasis, iridocyclitis, rheumatoid nodules, and Raynaud's phenomenon - all of which can be featured through blood testing and X ray.

    Sponsored Ads:

    Related Articles:

    Also In This Category:

    Currently Online :

    1 member(s), 14 guest(s):
    Bullfrog, Baiduspider+, Google, Cobion.com, Slurp, Speedy Spider

    Search :

    No comments yet
    Categories: A Child’s Guide to Elderca Calories Dyslexia Metabolism Raising An Autistic Child Childhood Vaccines Hearing Loss Overcome Alcoholism Epilepsy Overcoming Addictions Skin Rejuvenation Stretch Marks Overcoming Addiction Looking Thin Coconut Oil Slipped Disc The Telltale Signs Staying Healthy and Living It Trichotillomania Exercise Yoga Exercise and Body Type Headaches Natural Cures Holistic Medicine Hair Transplantation Antioxidants Complementary Medicine Sleep Physical Therapy Managing Diabetes Treadmills Smoking and Alcohol Holistic Vs Conventional Green Tea Panic Attacks Cellulite Lose Fat Insomnia Congestive Heart Blemishes Sinus Infections Traditional Chinese Medicine Top Health Concerns Today Healthy Living Hearing Aids Hematology Herniated Disc Irritable Bowel Syndrome Losing Weight Medical Billing Mental Health Nursing Nursing Assistant Nursing School Obesity pH Miracle Diet Stopping Snoring Toothache & Tooth Care Wart Removal Weight Loss Allegra Alternative Medicine Alzheimer Anxiety Aqua Chi Bed Bugs Body Detox Bronchitis Cancer Cataract Low Cholesterol Cholesterol Collagen Contact Lenses Dental Assistant Dieting Disability Drugs Healthy You Herbal Cures Stop Smoking Healthy Eating Hot Sheet Hoodia Insomnia Whitening Teeth Wheelchairs Sweating Snoring Sleep Disorder Rhinoplasty Rehabilitation Panic Attacks Nutrition Microdermabrasion Menopause Liver Detox Liposuction Laser Removal