Arthritis is joint inflammation. It is not one disease but a group of several conditions that cause stiffness, swelling, and pain in the joints. There are actually over 100 different types of arthritis.
Among the variations of arthritis are types that are caused by cartilage deterioration. One such example is osteoarthritis, the most common form of the disease. The inflammation that causes rheumatoid arthritis is normally the result of an overactive immune system. The different varieties of arthritis make it one of the most common illnesses in the United States. Forty-six million adults and 300,000 children have arthritis. Osteoarthritis is found the most in people over 60 years of age, but in its various forms arthritis can start at infancy.
Arthritis starts with cartilage breakdown. Cartilage protects the joints by cushioning the impact of movements, acting as a shock absorber when any type of pressure is put on a joint. Once cartilage breaks down, your bones begin to rub together. This results in pain, inflammation and stiffness. Inflammation which may eventually lead to arthritis occurs in any number of ways, including:
Inflammation can be treated once its cause has been identified. Chronic arthritis occurs when the erosion of cartilage is past the point where it can fully heal, resulting in long-term deformities. People who are at risk for arthritis are those who are overweight, have previously injured their joints or stress a particular joint with repetitive movements.
The treatment for arthritis depends on its cause, location, severity and the extent to which it interferes with your day to day activities. The first goal of treatment is to address the root cause of the arthritis. Sometimes the cause isn't curable, such as with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, so treatment will focus on pain reduction and preventing the arthritis from getting worse.