Arthritis is the swelling of a joint. Arthritis has the ability to cause severe joint and muscle pain and loss of the body’s movement (loss of ability to walk, climb stairs, or even brush your teeth). It can also cause stiffness, swelling of the joints and cartilage, inflammation, joint deformities, and bone loss. Arthritis affects the muscle, cartilage, and the skeletal system at the joints where two or more bones meet.
There are over a hundred different varieties of arthritis that affect more than 46 million adults and more than 300,000 children in the United States alone.
The Most Common Types of Arthritis
Osteoarthritis
A degenerative joint disease in which the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones in the joint deteriorates, causing pain and loss of movement as bone begins to rub against bone. This is the most widespread variety found in North America today.Rheumatoid Arthritis
This is a serious condition where the cartilage becomes inflamed as a result of body immune system failure. Rheumatoid Arthritis is one of the most serious and disabling kinds, especially for women.Gout
This type typically affects men who drink alcohol and eat a large amount of red meat. It is very painful and usually attacks the smaller joints of the body such as the toes and the fingers.Ankylosing Spondylitis
This rare kind of arthritis affects the spine. As a result of inflammation, the bones of the spine grow and fuse together over time.Fibromyalgia
Again, this variation affects mostly women and shows up as widespread pain that hits the muscles and the ligaments attached to the bone.
