What is arthritis?

Arthritis encompasses more than 100 disease and conditions that affect joints, the surrounding tissues, and other connective tissues. According to the National Arthritis Foundation, arthritis affects nearly one of every six Americans, making it one of the most common diseases in the United States. By the year 2020, an estimated 60 million people will be affected. While all Americans are at risk of arthritis, the prevalence of this disease is higher among women than men. In addition, arthritis is the leading cause of disability, limiting daily activities for more than 7 million citizens.  more

Arthritis encompasses more than 100 disease and conditions that affect joints, the surrounding tissues, and other connective tissues. According to the National Arthritis Foundation, arthritis affects nearly one of every six Americans, making it one of the most common diseases in the United States. By the year 2020, an estimated 60 million people will be affected. While all Americans are at risk of arthritis, the prevalence of this disease is higher among women than men. In addition, arthritis is the leading cause of disability, limiting daily activities for more than 7 million citizens. Does being overweight affect arthritis? Being overweight is associated with increased risk of osteoarthritis, and weight loss reduces the risk of knee osteoarthritis. Physical activity helps maintain joint health and may also reduce the risk of other adverse outcomes unrelated to arthritis, such as premature death, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and colon cancer. Studies indicate that ...  more

Many people use the word "arthritis" without knowing the meaning. Arthritis is really not a single disease. There are over 100 different kinds of arthritis, all of which affect one or more joints in the body. The word arthritis comes from two Greek words, arth meaning "joint" and itis, meaning "inflammation". Thus arthritis is "inflammation of a joint", which is somewhat misleading because in many kinds of arthritis the joint is not inflamed or swollen. The pain however may be nagging. Or at its worst, it can be physically and mentally crippling. What is a joint? A joint is formed by the meeting of the ends of two or more bones connected to each other by special tissues. The knee joint, for example, is formed by the thighbone (called femur) and the shinbone (or tibia) and is a hinge joint. The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint, formed by the ball-shaped upper end of the femur fitting into the socket of the pelvic bone. The bone ends forming a joint are covered with a smooth layer ...  more

Arthritis means joint inflammation. Symptoms can occur and cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints. However, arthritis may not only affect the joints, but can also affect muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments. The two most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Facts about Arthritis According to the National Arthritis Foundation * Arthritis affects nearly 1 in every 6 Americans (over 20 million total), making it the most common disease in the U.S. * By the year 2020, an estimated 60 million people will be affected. * The risk of arthritis is higher among woman, than men. * Arthritis is the leading cause of disability, limiting daily activities for more than 7 million Americans.

There are over 100 types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. The word "arthritis" means "joint inflammation." Inflammation is one of the body's natural reactions to disease or injury, and includes swelling, pain, and stiffness. Inflammation that lasts for a very long time or recurs, as in arthritis, can lead to tissue damage. A joint is where two or more bones come together, such as the hip or knee. The bones of a joint are covered with a smooth, spongy material called cartilage, which cushions the bones and allows the joint to move without pain. The joint is lined by a thin film of tissue called the synovium. The synovium's lining produces a slippery fluid called synovial fluid that nourishes the joint and helps reduce friction. Strong bands of tissue, called ligaments, connect the bones and help keep the joint stable. Muscles and tendons also support the joints and enable you to move. With arthritis, an area in or around a joint becomes inflamed, ...  more

Arthritis includes a variety of inflammatory and noninflammatory joint diseases such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Although the term arthritis is applied to a wide variety of disorders, arthritis means inflammation of a joint, whether the result of a disease, an infection, a genetic defect, or some other cause. Arthritis inflammation causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints and surrounding tissues. Many people, however, perceive arthritis as any kind of pain or discomfort associated with body movement, including such localized problems as low back pain, bursitis, tendinitis, and general stiffness or pain in the joints. For many, although by no means everyone, arthritis seems to be an inevitable part of the aging process, and there are no signs of real cures in the immediate future. On the positive side, advances in both conventional medical treatment and alternative therapies make living with arthritis more bearable.  more

What causes arthritis? Arthritis is a joint disorder featuring inflammation. A joint is an area of the body where two different bones meet. A joint functions to move the body parts connected by its bones. Arthritis literally means inflammation of one or more joints. Arthritis is frequently accompanied by joint pain. Joint pain is referred to as arthralgia. There are many types of arthritis (over 100 and growing). The types range from those related to wear and tear of cartilage (such as osteoarthritis) to those associated with inflammation resulting from an overactive immune system (such as rheumatoid arthritis). Together, the many types of arthritis make up the most common chronic illness in the United States. The causes of arthritis depend on the form of arthritis. Causes include injury (leading to osteoarthritis), metabolic abnormalities (such as gout and pseudogout), hereditary factors, infections, and unclear reasons (such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus). ...  more

While often referred to as if it were a single disease, arthritis is actually an umbrella term used for a group of more than 100 medical conditions that collectively affect nearly 46 million adults and 300,000 children in America alone. While the most common form of arthritis - osteoarthritis (OA) - is most prevalent in people over 60, arthritis in its various forms can start as early as infancy. Some forms affect people in their young-adult years as they are beginning careers and families and still others start during the peak career and child-rearing years. The common thread among these 100-plus conditions is that they all affect the musculoskeletal system and specifically the joints - where two or more bones meet. Arthritis-related joint problems include pain, stiffness, inflammation and damage to joint cartilage (the tough, smooth tissue that covers the ends of the bones, enabling them to glide against one another) and surrounding structures. Such damage can lead to joint ...  more

Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints which can be caused by a wide variety of things. It is one of the leading causes of mobility issues for people over 50, and it is widespread across all cultures and classes. Arthritis is also ancient: evidence of arthritis has even been uncovered in dinosaurs, suggesting that this joint condition is natural, caused simply by wear and tear on the joints as someone (or some creature) ages. The major feature of arthritis is pain, which can sometimes be severe. The condition may also be accompanied by swelling, tenderness, clubbing around the joint, and stiffness. Arthritis sufferers often have trouble moving joints affected by arthritis, making it hard for them to move or to use their hands. As many people who have been around the elderly have noted, arthritis often strikes the hands, because the joints in the hands are heavily used throughout one's life, and very old people sometimes have gnarled, clubbed fingers as a result of repeated bouts ...  more

Arthritis is a general term meaning “inflammation of the joint.” There are more than 100 different kinds of arthritic conditions that can affect the human body. To help provide smooth, pain-free motion to the joint, the bones in a joint are covered with a tough, lubricating tissue called cartilage. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is a degenerative joint disease that causes the layers of cartilage to gradually wear away until bone begins to rub against bone. This causes the irritation, swelling, stiffness and discomfort commonly associated with arthritis. While surgery to replace this worn out cartilage has been one of the most successful innovations in the last century, there are other treatments that can be tried, either before surgery or in conjunction with surgery. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions we hear from arthritis patients.  more