Arthritis

Arthritis literally means joint inflammation, and it can affect joints in any part of the body. Joints are places in the body where two bones meet. Many people use the term arthritis to refer to rheumatic diseases; however, the different kinds of arthritis comprise just a portion of the rheumatic diseases. Many forms of arthritis cause swelling, redness, heat and pain.

• Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis among older people. Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage, the tissue that cushions the ends of the bones within the joints, breaks down and wears away. In some cases, all of the cartilage may wear away, leaving bones that rub up against each other. The disease affects both men and women. Before age 45, osteoarthritis is more common in men than in women. After age 45, osteoarthritis is more common in women. By age 65, more than half of the population has x-ray evidence of osteoarthritis in at least one joint. Osteoarthritis affects only joints, not internal organs.
• Rheumatoid arthritis not only affects the joints, but may also attack tissue in the skin, lungs, eyes and blood vessels. People with rheumatoid arthritis may feel sick, tired and sometimes feverish. Rheumatoid arthritis is classified as an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system turns against parts of the body it is designed to protect. Rheumatoid arthritis generally occurs in a symmetrical pattern. This means that if one knee or hand is involved, the other one is too. It can occur at any age, but usually begins during a person’s most productive years. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs much more frequently in women than in men. About two to three times as many women as men have the disease.