What is Arthritis

"What is arthritis?" is a primer on this debilitating disease

If you have just been given the diagnosis of arthritis or hear friends or relatives complain about the many different kinds of aches and pains related to their arthritis conditions, you may be reasonably asking, "What is arthritis?" The word "arthritis" comes from the Greek words "arth", meaning joint, and "itis" meaning inflammation. So, in the most simple terms, arthritis is inflammation of the joint. Clearly, given the number of people around you who experience arthritis and the variety of forms and symptoms of arthritis that they identify, the question, "What is arthritis?" needs much more explanation than this simple definition.

We can look at "what is arthritis?" by reviewing the various forms of arthritis. Arthritis is a condition that is mainly marked by pain and stiffness in the joints of your body, such as the wrists, fingers, elbows, hips, legs, etc. Other forms of arthritis include bone and muscle disorders

We can also understand "what is arthritis" by understanding the mechanism in action in the two most common forms of arthritis. Every joint has cartilage that provides smooth and strong cushioning at the end of bones in a joint. It prevents rough-surfaced bones from rubbing and scratching against each other when a joint is moving. If this cartilage is damaged or wears off, then the most common type of arthritis, called osteo arthritis, can occur. The other common arthritis called rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the synovial membrane gets inflamed. The synovial membrane consists of a lubricating fluid that protects the joint.

If you ask an epidemiologist (a person who studies disease trends), "What is arthritis?", he would say that it is an epidemic in the US where aging and arthritis go together. For example:

* 2005 - 66 million arthritis sufferers(nearly 1 in 3 adults)

* Arthritis is one of the most prevalent chronic health problems and the nation's leading cause of disability among Americans over age 15.

* Arthritis is second only to heart disease as a cause of work disability.

* Arthritis limits everyday activities such as walking, dressing and bathing for more than 7 million Americans.

* Arthritis results in 39 million physician visits and more than a half million hospitalizations.

* Costs to the U.S. economy totals more than $86.2 billion annually.

* Arthritis affects people in all age groups including nearly 300,000 children.

* Baby boomers are now at prime risk. More than half those affected are under age 65.

* Half of those Americans with arthritis don't think anything can be done to help them.

* Arthritis refers to more than 100 different diseases that affect areas in or around joints.

* Arthritis strikes women more often than men.(1)

In the overall, "what is arthritis" is a question that every American needs to know the answer to so they can prevent it from happening to them or manage the disease if they have it.

(1) http://www.arthritis.org/resources/gettingstarted/default.asp