Publisher's Synopsis
"Do I have Arthritis?" "I have Arthritis". "They said it's normal with age". "These pains are just killing me".Join painSwellingMorning stiffness lasting for about 30minutes of getting upMorning stiffness lasts for longer than this with swelling of the joints.There may be more general symptoms, and inflammation in other parts of the body.General symptoms such as tiredness, poor appetite, fever and weight loss.Periods where symptoms become worse, known as flare-ups or flares is difficult to predictAre you familiar with these complaints, comments and symptoms? They vary from person to person and can come and go, and even change over time.Arthritis is a group of painful and degenerative conditions noticeable by inflammation in the joints that causes stiffness and pain. It can affect one joint or multiple joints.Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common type of arthritis, gets worse with age and is caused by wear and tear over the years. This erodes the natural shock absorber, resulting in painful bone-on-bone friction, which may feel like a grinding sensation in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is caused by the immune system attacking the joints as if they were foreign tissues. Because of this, it is classified as an autoimmune disease. It causes bone erosion and swollen joints resulting in swollen, stiff and painful joints. It is not clear what triggers this problem.You must be familiar with the traditional treatment for arthritis which is the use of anti-inflammatory medications and painkillers. This does not cure, but manage the symptoms such as pain, stiffness and swelling.However, you have to endure and live with some of the side effects resulting from the use of the medication, likeIndigestion - including stomach aches, feeling sick and diarrheaStomach ulcers - this can cause internal bleeding and anaemiaHeadacheDrowsinessDizzinessAllergic reactionsEven reaction with other medications you are taking there by affecting how it works and increasing the risk of the side effects.Improving joint mobility and flexibility, maintaining a healthy weight and getting enough of exercise are some of the recommendations to also manage the symptoms.So a natural approach for treatment is becoming more popular and advisable. After all, why would you use a medication that does not cure and would induce unwanted and serious side effects?Arthritis is a term often used to mean any disorder that affects joints. Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness. Other symptoms may include redness, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion of the affected joints. In some types of arthritis, other organs are also affected. Onset can be gradual or sudden. There are over 100 types of arthritis. The most common forms are osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis usually occurs with age and affects the fingers, knees, and hips. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that often affects the hands and feet. Other types include gout, lupus, fibromyalgia, and septic arthritis. They are all types of rheumatic disease. Osteoarthritis affects more than 3.8% of people, while rheumatoid arthritis affects about 0.24% of people. Gout affects about 1-2% of the Western population at some point in their lives. In Australia about 15% of people are affected by arthritis, while in the United States more than 20% have a type of arthritis. Overall the disease becomes more common with age. Arthritis is a common reason that people miss work and can result in a decreased quality of life. The term is derived from arthr- (meaning 'joint') and -itis (meaning 'inflammation'
