What causes arthritis?
Arthritis is a breakdown of the articular cartilage covering the ends of bones – a degenerative process over time, similar to the thinning of your tire treads with use. There are many causes of arthritis. There are an estimated 30-40 million Americans with arthritis; most of these tears are due to degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis). There are 2-3 million Americans with inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis. Trauma to the knee is one of the major reasons for arthritis in the younger individual. Arthritis most often increases as we age.
In majority of the Arthritis there is more than one causative factor. Degenerative Arthritis (Osteo-Arthritis) is related to age, body weight, and injury. Rheumatic fever Arthritis is preceded by infections with specific types of bacteria in the throat and upper respiratory tract. However, the bacteria themselves do not cause Rheumatic fever Arthritis but excite an abnormal immune response (usually concerned with defense mechanism of the body) in the joints and sometimes in the heart and kidney as well. Uncommonly, bacteria can directly cause pyogenic Arthritis. Several types of infections (for example urinary, diarrhoea, sexual diseases) can indirectly cause post-infective forms of Arthritis. In Rheumatoid Arthritis which is marked by multiple joint swellings and deformities the exact cause is not known, but hereditary and infections play an important role. Many of the spondylitic conditions associated with back pains are related to excess body weight, poor postures and injuries. Anky
