Arthritis

Arthritis
Definition
Arthritis is a group of chronic conditions characterized
by joint inflammation. It is one of the leading causes
of disability in people older than 55 years. There
are more than 100 types of arthritis, with osteoarthritis
and rheumatoid arthritis among the most prominent.
Although the various forms of arthritis are quite different
from each other, they produce common symptoms
which include sore, stiff, inflamed, and painful joints.
There are different causes for arthritis; for some types
theses are not even fully explored. Rheumatoid arthritis
is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system
begins to act abnormally. Osteoarthritis occurs following
trauma or infection of the joint, or as a result of
aging. Usually, the first line of treatment is medication
to reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain. The medication
is often supported by physical therapy that might
reduce the rate of deterioration of the joints. Surgery is
only applied for the most severe cases.