Essential Facts You Should Know About Arthritis

Arthritis is a disease of the joints and can affect either a single or multiple joints. Many types of arthritis have different causes and treatments. The most common type of Arthritis in Des Plaines, Illinois, is rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. In many occasions, arthritis affects people of 65 years and above, but can also affect children, youth, and young adults. Research has proved that the disease is more common among women than men, especially those with overweight.

What Causes Arthritis?

Your joints have a flexible connective tissue called the cartilage. The work of the cartilage is to protect the joints by absorbing shock ad excessive pressure when you put stress on them. When the amount of cartilage tissue reduces, some forms of arthritis develop. An injury or an infection can cause a breakdown of cartilage tissue to the joints. If your family lineage has a history of osteoarthritis, you may be at risk of having it in the future.

Rheumatoid Arthritis occurs when your body tissues get attacked by your immune system. The soft tissue that often suffers is the synovium, which produces fluid that lubricate the joints. This type of arthritis will finally destroy both the bone and cartilage. Scientists have not yet discovered the cause of the immune system attacks.

Diagnosis of Arthritis

If you are not sure who to consult for an arthritis diagnosis, having an appointment with your primary doctor is the first step you should take. The doctor will perform a physical examination, and if he notices a limited range of motion in the joints, then you are referred to a specialist. Sometimes the symptoms of arthritis occur abruptly and might be severe. In such a situation, you should schedule an appointment with a rheumatologist for a quick diagnosis of arthritis type and its treatment.

Rheumatologists analyze the inflammation levels of your joint fluid and blood to diagnose your type of arthritis. They may also opt for blood tests for certain types of antibodies, like the rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibody. While making the diagnosis, the specialists also do scans like MRI, CT scans, and X-Rays to have the image of your bones and cartilage.

How to Treatment arthritis

The main target of arthritis treatment is to prevent more damage to the joints and also manage pain. There are various methods through which you can manage pain, and with time, you will learn which one works best for you. The pain management methods include the use of devices like canes and walkers, which help in taking pressure from aching joints.

Depending on your type of arthritis, medications like menthol or capsaicin creams, analgesics, and immunosuppressants can help treat arthritis. In some severe cases, you may be required to undertake surgery for replacement of your joint with an artificial one. In most cases, the operations are done to replace knees and hips.

Lifestyle Changes for a person With arthritis

• Maintain a healthy weight to reduce the risk of arthritis development
• Maintaining a healthy diet with a lot of antioxidants, which help reduce inflammation
• When diagnosed with arthritis, avoid processed foods, too much meat, fried foods, and dairy products.
• Exercising your body can also help to maintain flexible joints. The best exercise for a person with arthritis is swimming.