What is arthritis? Arthritis is one of the most leading causes of disability. One out of three Americans has one of the 100 types of arthritis. Most people over the age of 50 show signs of arthritis. Their joints naturally degenerate over time. .
Arthritis can be found by your doctor though x rays and blood tests. Arthritis is formed on the joints or other important parts on your body. Arthritis is a term that means joint inflammation. Joint inflammation is a protective reaction of tissue to injury or disease. Four signs mark it: swelling, redness, heat, and pain. Osteoarthritis, the most painful form of arthritis, starts out by breaking down cartilage in the joint, which then causes stiffness or pain. As cartilage breaks down, your body tries to repair the damage by creating new bone. The ends of the bones in the joint thicken, and the original bone can result in noticeable lumps, most often on the hands and feet. Some factors may increase your risk of developing arthritis, including: age, female gender, join alignment, hereditary gene defect, joint injury or overuse caused by labor or sports, and obesity. Age is the strongest risk factor for arthritis. Although arthritis can start in young adulthood, if you are over 45 years old, you are at higher risk. In general, arthritis occurs more in women than in men. Before age 45, arthritis occurs more frequently in men; after age 45, arthritis is more common in women. Arthritis of the hand is mainly common among women. People with joints that move or fit together improperly, such as bow legs, a dislocated hip, or double jointed ness, are more possible to develop arthritis in those joints. A flaw in one of the genes in charge for a cartilage component called collagen can cause deterioration of cartilage. Traumatic injury to the knee or hip increases your risk for developing arthritis in these joints. Joints that are used repeatedly in certain jobs may be more likely to develop arthritis because of injury or overuse.