Denton County Living Well Magazine September/October 2016 | Page 17

Arthritis…

Things you need to know

A

rthritis in one form or another afflicts 66 million
Americans or nearly 1 in 3 adults. Arthritis is defined as inflammation and swelling of the cartilage and lining of the joints, generally accompanied by an increase of fluid in the joints.

There are many cases of arthritis. Hereditary tendencies,
age, trauma or injury and infections can all lead to arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common for and is often
called degenerative arthritis or “wear and tear” arthritis.
It generally has a gradual onset and usually causes a dull
throbbing night time pain. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most
serious and crippling form and usually affects more than a
dozen smaller joints. It is characterized with lengthy morning stiffness, fatigue and weight loss. Women are 3-4 times
more likely to suffer from RA than men and the disease results in joint deformity and loss of motion. Gout is a type of
metabolic arthritis and is caused by a buildup of uric acid
in the joints. It can be caused by problems in the kidney. It
most often affects the great toe joint but can also affect the
ankle and knee. It is characterized by acute intense pain

By Jill Wisdom

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