Arthritis

Arthritis can be pure hell! Ask any of the millions who continue to suffer from this affliction. This excruciating condition invades the joints, causing chronic inflammation that invariably results in the arthritis symptoms of pain, stiffness, swelling and loss of joint function. The bad news for women is they’re two to three times more susceptible than men in contracting this disease. You’d be surprised to know that even your faithful dog isn’t spared this condition!

Types of arthritis

Arthritis actually consists of more than 100 different conditions. These may include relatively mild forms of tendonitis, like in ‘tennis elbow’ and bursitis to crippling systemic forms, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Certain pain syndromes, like fibromyalgia and earthritis-related disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, that involve every part of the body, are also included in this. Even disease, such as gout, that almost nobody connects with arthritis and osteoarthritis, the misnamed ‘wear and tear’ arthritis, are some of its forms.

Even though the effect of arthritis is well studied, medical researchers still don’t know for sure what causes it. However, its early detection is important, since most therapies work best when started early in the disease process.