Arthritis means joint inflammation. This term used to describe a lot of different conditions that affect joints. Common rheumatic conditions related to arthritis include gout, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Rheumatic conditions tend to involve pain, aching, stiffness, and swelling in and around one or more joints.
Types of arthritis
There are around 200 types of arthritis. Some examples are Inflammatory arthritis, degenerative or mechanical arthritis, Soft tissue musculoskeletal pain, back pain, connective tissue disease, infectious arthritis, and metabolic arthritis.
Inflammatory arthritis is characterized by damaging inflammation that does not occur as a normal reaction to injury or infection.
Degenerative or mechanical arthritis refers to a group of conditions that mainly involve damage to the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones.
Soft tissue musculoskeletal pain is felt in tissues other than the joints and bones, Connective tissue disease support, bind together, or separate other body tissues and organ.
Infectious arthritis is a bacterium, virus, or fungus that enters a joint can sometimes cause inflammation.
Metabolic arthritis is a chemical created when the body breaks down substances called purines, purines are found in human cells and several foods.
Causes of arthritis
There is no single cause for all types of arthritis. The causes could change according to the type or the form of arthritis.
The possible causes that may have included injury could lead to degenerative arthritis. Abnormal metabolism could lead to gout and pseudogout. Inheritance such as in osteoarthritis. Additionally, infections such as in the arthritis of Lyme disease.
Most types of arthritis are linked to a combination of factors, but some have no obvious cause and appear to be unpredictable in their emergence.
Risk Factors for arthritis
Nonmodifiable arthritis is the risk of developing most types of arthritis increase with age. Most types of arthritis are more common in females; however, gout is more common in males than females. Furthermore, specific genes are associated with a higher risk of certain types of arthritis.
Modifiable arthritis risks are overweight and obesity. Extra weight can contribute to both the onset and progression of knee osteoarthritis. Damaged to a joint can contribute to the development of osteoarthritis in that joint.
Infections also many microbial agents can infect joints and trigger the development of various forms of arthritis. Besides, certain occupations that involve repetitive knee bending and squatting are associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.