Top 5 Facts About Arthritis On World Arthritis Day

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12 Oct

World Arthritis Day, or WAD, is an annual global awareness day held on 12th October. WAD strives to promote awareness of the existence and effect of rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders, often known as RMDs, among all audiences worldwide. WAD was founded in 1996 by Arthritis and Rheumatism International (ARI). The crippling impacts of RMDs, of which there are over 200, are seldom understood; nonetheless, their influence is widely - and often quietly felt. (www.eular.org, n.d.)

Today we’d like to share 5 things you might not know about Arthritis.

1- What is Arthritis? 🠖

2- There are lots of different types of Arthritis 🠖

3- Reducing the risk of Arthritis 🠖

4- Young people can also be affected by Arthritis 🠖

5- Early diagnosis and treatment are very important 🠖

What is Arthritis?

In the United Kingdom, it is estimated that about 9.3 million individuals suffer from arthritis. It is the most prevalent cause of disability in the UK. (The state of musculoskeletal health 2021 arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions in numbers, 2021)

The term "arthritis" refers to "joint inflammation." Inflammation is difficult to imagine and describe, but it is a natural part of the body's healing process, much like a cut or a bruise. Inflammation is similar to a bruise in that it causes swelling on the interior of the joints, which can cause pain and stiffness. (NHS, 2018)

There are lots of different types of Arthritis

There are around 100 distinct types of arthritis and associated diseases. Osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and gout are some of the most prevalent forms. (www.arthritis.org, n.d.)

Osteoarthritis (OA)

Your joints constantly sustain minor injury as a regular part of living. Most of the time, your body heals the damage by itself, leaving you symptom-free.

Osteoarthritis, however, is a condition in which the protecting cartilage on the ends of your bones deteriorates, leading to discomfort, oedema, and difficulty moving the joint. The region may become red and inflamed, and bony growths may form. (NHS, 2019).

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This indicates that your immune system, which normally fights infection, accidentally assaults the cells that line your joints, resulting in swollen, stiff, and painful joints.

This can harm adjacent bone, cartilage, and joints over time. (NHS, 2019).

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA)

A third or more of those who have psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis.

It often appears 5 to 10 years after psoriasis is identified, while some individuals may experience joint issues prior to noticing any symptoms related to their skin.

Psoriatic arthritis is hypothesised to occur from the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy tissue, just as psoriasis. (NHS, 2019).

Gout

The most prevalent kind of inflammatory arthritis is gout. It frequently affects the big toe and occurs at night. It causes sudden, severe bouts of joint pain. The ankle, knee, or other toes' joints may also be affected. People who have osteoarthritis in their finger joints may get their first gout episode there.

Gout is three times more likely to affect males than women. Men typically develop it after the age of 40 and women after menopause, when estrogen's protective properties are lost. The symptoms of calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD), formerly known as pseudogout, might be mistaken for those of gout. However, unlike the uric acid crystals that cause gout, the crystals that irritate the joint in CPPD are calcium phosphate crystals. (Arthritis.org, 2020).

Reducing the risk of arthritis

True prevention may not be achievable because scientists don't fully comprehend the underlying causes or mechanisms of many diseases. There is, however, a chance that some or all forms of arthritis and associated disorders will one day be curable.

The truth is that arthritis cannot be completely avoided. However, there are steps you may do to lower your risk and postpone the beginning of some forms of arthritis. Do everything you can today to keep your joints mobile and functional and prevent the pain and impairment that come with arthritis if you currently have healthy joints.

More than 100 different forms of arthritis and related illnesses exist, and each one has unique risk factors, characteristics, habits, and circumstances.

Some risk factors are unchangeable, and there isn't much you can do to prevent them. Women are more likely to develop particular types of arthritis than men, and persons with a family history of the disease are more likely to have it overall (genetic profile).

The actions and environmental conditions that can be adjusted to lower risk, postpone onset, or even prevent arthritis are referred to as modifiable risk factors. Here are a few instances of risk factors that can be altered for specific forms of arthritis and associated conditions:

Retain a healthy weight if you have osteoarthritis.
Avoid smoking if you have rheumatoid arthritis.
Eat a balanced diet low in sugar, alcohol, and purines to prevent gout.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, which frequently result in osteoarthritis (OA) after a few years, can be avoided with the use of suitable equipment, adequate training, and safe play. (www.arthritis.org, n.d.).

Young people can also be affected by Arthritis

Although arthritis is sometimes thought to affect older people, it can also affect younger people.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the name given to the majority of children arthritis types (JIA).

For at least six weeks, JIA produces discomfort and inflammation in one or more joints.

Although the precise aetiology of JIA is unknown, a child with the condition can lead a normal life because the symptoms frequently grow better as they age. (NHS, 2018).

Paediatric rheumatic disease, generally referred to as juvenile arthritis (JA), isn't a particular illness. It serves as a catch-all phrase to cover all inflammatory and rheumatic conditions that manifest in children less than 16.

Autoimmune or autoinflammatory diseases are the most common types of JA. Consequently, the immune system, which is meant to defend the body against foreign invaders like viruses and bacteria, misfires and secretes inflammatory chemicals that harm healthy cells and tissue. However, certain kinds of JA have few or no joint symptoms or only affect the skin and internal organs. In the majority of JA instances, this results in joint inflammation, swelling, pain, and tenderness. (www.arthritis.org, n.d.).

Early diagnosis and treatment are very important

It typically shocks people to find that "arthritis" is not a medical diagnosis. There are more than 100 diseases and related ailments that fall under this umbrella category. The first step in receiving the best treatment and management plan for your circumstance is determining what type of arthritis you have or other associated illness you have.

Certain forms of arthritis demand immediate attention. Getting therapy as soon as possible if you have an arthritis type that can result in irreversible joint damage can help preserve joint function and shield you from other dangerous health issues. (www.arthritis.org, n.d.).