Could Arthritis Be Causing Your Mystery Symptoms?
Arthritis has a way of not being understood, but, according to the National Arthritis Foundation website, it affects over 50 million adults and 300,000 children in the United States.
While not being a single disease, 'arthritis' is the informal way of referring to joint disease and pains. With more than 100 different types of arthritis, it is often hard to determine whether one is dealing with a simple pain or something more.
Most Common Types of Arthritis
Let's take a look at just four of the most common types of arthritis; Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Gout.
Each of these four types of arthritis affects the body differently and, therefore, carry their
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Due to the pain of movement, osteoarthritis causes a sedentary lifestyle, which can lead to diabetes and heart disease.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Overview
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack itself. Since symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may come and go, they are often hard to diagnosis, thus, sufferers find themselves with a puzzle of mystery symptoms.
Symptoms
Joint pains and tenderness, often with some degree of fever are experienced. In the early stages, there may only be minor swelling, tenderness, and redness but this may increase to lasting for longer than 30 minutes. Unlike osteoarthritis, RA can also affect organs and body systems, such as eyes, mouth, and skin.
The lungs can become affected with inflammation and scarring, leading to shortness of breath. Inflammation of blood vessels can lead to damage of nerves and skin. Overall, RA can wreck havoc on your body and can cause aches and pains long before it is
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These symptoms are triggered by an overactive immune system.
Symptoms
Most individuals with psoriatic arthritis suffer from the skin symptoms prior to the joint symptoms. Joint symptoms include joint pain and stiffness. This disease may lay dormant for a while and be triggered by outside influences.
There are five specific types of psoriatic arthritis: Symmetric psoriatic arthritis that affects the same joints on both sides of the body; Asymmetric psoriatic arthritis which affects different joints on either side of the body; Distal psoriatic arthritis, which causes inflammation and stiffness at the toes and fingers, often affecting the nails; and Spondylitis arthritis mutilans, the most severe, as it causes deformities in the small joints of the fingers and toes.
Watch this video:
Psoriatic Arthritis: Causes and Treatments You Really Need to Know
https://youtu.be/dCwcWU7oeU4
Gout
Lupus is inflammatory disease caused when the immune system attacks its own tissues and organs, and this inflammation affects many different body parts such as the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs. Second is the Celiac disease and it is an autoimmune reaction from eating gluten, and it may lead to damage in the small intestine because this disease attacks the villi, the projections that line the small intestine for protection. The last example is Rheumatoid Arthritis, an inflammatory disorder in which affects many joints, mainly in hands and feet, and then causing your joints to painfully swell and possibly cause bone erosion.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory and an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s tissue (Rheumatoid arthritis, 2017). This disease affects the entire body, which is called a systemic (means entire body) disease. Arthritis is derived from the word part arthr-, which means “joint,” and -itis, which means “inflammation,” so altogether it means “inflammation of the joints.” It creates inflammation that causes the tissue that lines the inside of joints (synovium) to thicken. About 1.5 million people in the U.S. are affected. It affects all races, but it affects three times as many women than men (What is Rheumatoid Arthritis, n.d.). Overtime, rheumatoid arthritis causes painful swelling that can potentially result in bone erosion or joint deformity, which leads up to physical disabilities. RA can affect more than just your joints, but can spread to body systems, skin, eyes, lungs, heart, blood vessels, e.t.c (Rheumatoid arthritis, 2017).
Symptoms of osteoarthritis often develop slowly and worsen over the years. Signs and symptoms include: pain in joints, tenderness, stiffness, loss of flexibility, grating sensation joints (from bone on bone), and bone spurs.
Zelman, D. (2014) Joint Stiffness and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Available at: http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/guide/joint-stiffness-and-rheumatoid-arthritis (Accessed: 12th May 2014).
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition that primarily affects the hands, spine and the ankles and hips. It is known to be associated with aging, and is concerned with the cartilage that protects the joints (the meeting place of two bones). Normal cartilage allows for bones to slide over each other uniformly, acting as a shock absorber to any damage. However cartilage in osteoarthritis, located at the ends of the bones erodes and deteriorates, causing friction and hence pain, swelling and restricted movement. Therefore in osteoarthritic both the composition and appearance of the cartilage alters, while the body attempts to repair this damaged cartilage is broken down faster than it can be built up. A defective repair process can cause bone overgrowth, bone spur/osteocytes to form which can be seen at the ends of the joints. In osteoarthritis the bones come in close contact with each other, and wear away leaving the bone exposed and unprotected.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting more than 27 million Americans (LeMone, Burke, Bauldoff, 2011). It is caused when the cartilage in the joints breaks down, causing the bones of the joint to rub against one another. This causes pain, stiffness, and loss of motion in the joint. Osteoarthritis is most prevalent in those 65 and older, but can affect those of any age. In addition, African Americans and Hispanics report a higher incidence of arthritis than Caucasians (LeMone, Burke, Bauldoff, 2011). Although the cause is unknown, it is believed that the increasing age of the population, prevalence of obesity and injuries add to the progression of the condition. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body; however, those of the hand, hip, and knee are often the most common. This condition may be asymptomatic, or may present symptoms including soreness, stiffness and pain. The symptoms are more common in the older population, those with limited activity levels, and those who are obese. Joint cartilage thins over time, causing an increased risk for symptoms in the elderly, and obesity puts extra pressure on the joints during activity. Osteoarthritis is commonly diagnosed with the use of a physical assessment along with results of radiology testing such as X-Ray and MRI.
Arthritis affects people of all age groups. More than 100 types of arthritis are known. Among these osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis having the highest incidence. One of the major causes of chronic debilitation in industrialized nations is Osteoarthritis which results from damage to the joints, which may be due to trauma, infection, or age-related wear. Rheumatoid arthritis is encountered less frequently than osteoarthritis and is estimated to affect around one per cent of the world’s population. Amongst patients of Rheumatoid arthritis, women are three times more likely to be affected by this condition than men. This condition is caused by an inflammatory process where the body starts attacking itself. Rheumatoid arthritis also affects several joints, with inflammation sometimes seen in and around the lungs, the heart, the eyes and the skin. The most commonly reported complaint by arthritis patients is pain. The pain might be from the joint itself and be a result of inflammation, damage from the disease, or through daily wear and tear. Muscle pain is also common and is caused by having to force movements against stiff and painful joints. Although range of movement in the affected joint may be limited and uncomfortable, physical exercise has been shown to benefit those with arthritis. Physical therapy has been shown to significantly improve function, decrease pain in the long term and delay the need for surgery in advanced cases. The majority of arthritis cases occur among theelderly, however the disease can occur in children as well. Over 70% of the population that get affected by arthritis in North America are over the age of 65 (4). The disease occurs more commonly in females than males in all races, age groups, and ethn...
Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are two symptoms of a single disease caused by an overactive immune system attacking the skin and joints of the affected individual. The “t-cells” or white blood cells that fight infection within your body are also the cause of psoriasis. Psoriasis is characterized by red patches of inflamed skin with a build-up of silvery-white colored dead skin or scale. Psoriatic arthritis is similar to rheumatoid arthritis as it is an inflammation of the joints. This inflammation can cause pain, stiffness, and even disfigurement. The same white blood cells attacking the skin are also attacking the cartilage in the joints. However, what is causing the white blood cells to attack the skin and joints is still unclear.
The disease can either be active or in remission depending on whether the tissues are inflamed or not. There are no systems when Rheumatoid Arthritis is in remission. When it becomes active again, it is called a flare and all the symptoms come back. The main symptoms are: fatigue, loss of appetite, fever, aches in the muscles and joints, and stiffness. The stiffness usually occurs in the morning or after resting for a long time. The joints can also go red, swell and be painful because the joint lining is inflamed which causes extra synovial fluid to be produced and the joint lining tissue to get thicker. The early symptoms usually are in small joints of the hands and wrists, and they are pain and stiffness...
Arthritis is a general term for approximately 100 diseases that produce either INFLAMMATION of connective tissues, particularly in joints, or noninflammatory degeneration of these tissues. The word means "joint inflammation," but because other structures are also affected, the diseases are often called connective tissue diseases. The terms rheumatism and rheumatic diseases are also used. Besides conditions so named, the diseases include gout, lupus erythematosus, ankylosing spondylitis, degenerative joint disease, and many others, among them the more recently identified LYME DISEASE.
The most common musculoskeletal disorder and a major cause of disability in people over 65 years is osteoarthritis (OA) (Felson DT et al, 1987) (1). According to World Health Organization (WHO) report, OA of knee is more likely to become the fourth most important cause of disability in women, and the eighth most important cause in men (Murray CJL, Lopez AD, 1997)(2) . Primary prevention of knee OA has become a major health care aim and a clear understanding of the risk factors is required to design preventive strategies. Many investigations reported obesity, previous history of knee injury, sedentary life style, hand OA (Heberden’s nodes), and a familial history of the disease are major risk factors for OA of knee (Cyrus Cooper et al, 2000) (3). In spite of recent advancements the causes and pathogenesis of knee OA remains largely unknown (A Teichtahl, A Wluka, F M Cicuttini, 2003) (4) but however there is increasing research interest in the contribution of biomechanical variables on progression and management of the disease (Andriacchi TP, 1991) (5).
An asthma attack has many effects on the body. Asthma affects the body by limiting the flow of air into the lungs. It causes airway inflammation, bronchial restriction and irregular airway obstruction. Airway inflammation is how the body reacts to something that is irritating the airways. When happening your lungs begin swelling, your breathing passageway becomes restricted and mucus is secreted. Bronchial restriction happens when the muscles in your airways tighten around the breathing tubes in your lungs. (Bronchial tubes). Mucus or fluid that is accumulated by the reaction can obstruct your airway and make it very difficult to breathe properly.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto immune condition where immune system affects the lining of the joints which affects all the body joints, usually smaller joints, such as hands and feet. But sometimes larger joints can also be affected such as hip and Knee. Rheumatoid Arthritis affects the joints by causing inflammation and damage. (Arthritis Australia, 2017). Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can cause restrictions in self-care activities such as showering, dressing, eating, walking, toileting, grooming and bladder or bowel control.
Arthritis occurs when the body incorrectly identifies its own tissue as foreign matter and attacks it. Arthritis includes a set of more than eighty autoimmune diseases. Arthritis attacks connective tissues and joints. It causes stiffness, pain, inflammation, and swelling of the joints. Some kinds are crippling, but rarely leads to death. There are many different kinds of arthritis, the main ones being Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis; others include gout and ankylosing spodylitis.
The symptoms of psoriasis differ from type to type, although inflamed, scaly lesions are present in all five types. The most common form of the disease, plaque psoriasis, is identified by small bumps that begin to grow and become scaly. These lesions flake easily, but removing these patches can cause the tender skin below to bleed. In the Guttate type, small, individual, red drops form. This type does not have as much scaling as plaque psoriasis. The drops usually clear up on their own, but may also reappear as a different form of psoriasis, usually plaque. Inverse psoriasis usually occurs in places where the skin folds, such as the genitals, breasts, armpits or the backs of knees. This type will appear red, yet it will be smooth and dry. Also, no scaling will occur. Pustular psoriasis is a type that's significantly more rare. It is also more painful. In this type, blisters filled with non-infectious pus appear within a few hours and then dry up and peel within another two days. Severe medical risks exist for those who have this particular form of psoriasis, due to its side effects; exhaustion, anemia, weight loss, fever, chills, rapid pulse rate, severe itching and muscle weakness. Even less common than pustular psoriasis is erythrodermic psoriasis. This type is...