Arthritis is a disease that can affect many areas of your life from romantic relationships to life in the office. Many adults, and sometimes even children, are diagnosed with arthritis. Discover early warning signs of arthritis as well as general information about the condition.
What to Look For
- Joint Pain: Arthritis can cause pain in the joints making it difficult to complete everyday activities at home or work. It may also cause swelling around the affected area such as in the wrists or fingers. Pain may not be persistent and rather present itself in waves.
- Joint Redness: Painful joints can cause redness in addition to swelling. Look for areas on your skin where there has been a significant change in color around your joints.
- Loss of Range or Motion: Due to the swelling and pain, arthritis can cause loss of range or motion in joints. You may find it difficult to sit or stand for long periods of time.
- Both Sides of Your Body: For many patients with rheumatoid arthritis, they find the symptoms they experience affect both sides of the body equally. Keep in mind; this is not always the case.
- Anemia: Chronic inflammation caused by arthritis can cause a decrease in red blood cells. Red blood cell counts may go back up when symptoms are treated.
- Fatigue: You may find you are quite tired or have a lack of energy along with the other symptoms listed above. This is very common in patients who experience arthritis. Being tired can affect your mood and social interactions.
Why You Should Worry
There are many different types of arthritis, but the two most common are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. It causes inflammation of the joints and can cause the breakdown of tissues and the lining between joints. The biggest symptoms of arthritis are stiffness and joint pain. There is no cure for it, so symptoms typically worsen over time with age. If left untreated, joints can become very painful and possibly immobile.
Common Misconceptions About Arthritis
- There are no treatments: While there are many negative impacts arthritis can have on your body and lifestyle, there are several treatment options available. Two of the best things you can do to help alleviate symptoms include diet and exercise.
- Supplements can help to rebuild your joints: Many people believe the supplement glucosamine can aid in reversing damage caused by arthritis. It may cause some temporary relief from pain, but in the long run, glucosamine supplements are not able to help rebuild joints.
- Arthritis isn’t common: According to Prevention, 1 in 50 Americans have arthritis. As you age, your likelihood to develop the disease grows.
Tools to Help Prevent Joint Damage
While there is no true way to prevent yourself from having arthritis, there are several steps you can take to help reduce your risk of having to deal with it later on life. One of the biggest things you can do is to maintain a healthy weight. Those who are obese are more likely to have arthritis. Eat a healthy, balanced diet and get plenty of exercise.
When playing sports, the use of proper equipment is important. Using the right equipment can help to reduce the risk of getting tears in ligaments which can later lead to the development of arthritis.
Finally, you can help reduce your risk of having arthritis by not smoking. Studies show those who smoke can have genetic factors triggered which can lead to more severe arthritis.
If you are experiencing any combination of the symptoms mentioned, it is important to seek the appropriate medical attention to begin treatment. Remember, the earlier you begin treatment, the less severe your symptoms are likely to become.
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