Arthritis is a very common disease condition, mostly misunderstood.
There are more than 100 types of arthritis, but the most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. Arthritis simply means joint disease or inflammation of the joint.  A joint is an area of the body where to different bones meet. The function of the joint is to move the body part connected by its bone. 


  Arthritis is more common among adults aged 65 years or older, but it can affect people of all ages, sexes and races including children.


 It’s the leading cause of disability in America,  more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children have some type of arthritis. There are different type of arthritis, some affect the heart, eyes, lungs, kidneys, skin as well as joint. 

Types of arthritis 

As said earlier, arthritis has more than 100 types, so I will be discussing briefly some of the common types.

Osteoarthritis: degenerative joint disease, which is referred to wear-and-tear of the joint (cartilage). 
 Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic condition of the joints. It occurs when the cartilage or cushion between joints breaks down leading to pain, stiffness and swelling. 
This usually occurs with age and affects the fingers, knees, hips, small joints of the fingers and the bases of the thumb and big toe.
According to Wikipedia osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis affecting about 237 million (3.3%) of the population.


Common risk factors include increasing age, obesity, previous joint injury, overuse of the joint, weak thigh muscles, and genes.

Rheumatoid arthritis: is an autoimmune disorder that often affects the hands and feet. The disease may also affect other parts of the body. 


According to mayo clinic as an autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body’s tissues.


The immune system contains a complex organization of cells and antibodies designed normally to “seek and destroy” invaders of the body, particularly infections. 

Unlike the wear-and-tear damage of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity. This may result in a low red blood cell count, inflammation around the lungs, and inflammation around the heart. 

Gout Arthritis is due to elevated levels of uric acid in the blood. Gout is a type of arthritis that causes inflammation, usually begins suddenly in a joint. 


This occurs due to a combination of diet and genetic factors. At high levels, uric acid crystallizes and the crystals deposit in joints, tendons and surrounding tissues, resulting in an attack of gout.

Gout is a particular type of metabolic arthritis that is clearly diet-related. Foods that are high in purines, especially red meats and shellfish, can worsen the condition. Moreover, certain foods elevate the levels of uric acid, including alcohol and those foods containing high amounts of fructose such as the corn syrup found in soft drinks.


Contributory risk factors for gout include:

• Being overweight or obese

• Hypertension

• Alcohol

• Diuretic use

• A diet rich in meat and seafood

• Poor kidney function.

Left untreated, gout can cause irreversible joint damage and kidney problems



What causes arthritis? 
The cause of arthritis depends on the type of arthritis. The causes include the following: 
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• Overweight and obesity: excess weight can contribute to both the onset and progression of knee osteoarthritis
• Injury: People who have injured a joint, perhaps while playing a sport, are more likely to eventually develop arthritis in that joint.

• Metabolic abnormality which leads to gout arthritis 

• Infection

• Smoking

• Occupations which are very physically demanding: certain occupations that involve repetitive knee bending and squatting are associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.

• Genetics and family risks :Some types of arthritis run in families, so you may be more likely to develop arthritis if your parents or siblings have the disorder. Some specific genes are associated with a higher risk of certain types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and ankylosing spondylitis.

How will you know if you have arthritis? 

Arthritis can start in many ways, and can be difficult to recognize. It can come on slowly and be mild, or it can start suddenly and cause intense joint pain that surges within a few hours but if severe,  it can result to inability to perform activities of the daily living such as difficuly in climbing stairs, standing up from chair and walking. 


With inflammatory arthritis there’s likely to be more Swelling of the joints and more variation in the pain Other common symptoms include,
Early morning joint stiffness,decrease range of motion,  tiredness, a general feeling of being unwell, weight loss, mild fevers or night sweats
There can be knobbing of finger joint, which is a permanent changes that occurs with severe arthritis.

How can  you  manage Arthritis?

Stay active: To increase the life of your joints, you should stay active. Keeping active is good for your heart and lungs, and for your general health and wellbeing. Try and exercise regularly, exercise is beneficial for managing arthritis and overall health. 

Although arthritis can make exercise more painful and difficult at first, regular exercise is one of the best remedies to ease arthritis pain and keep heart disease and diabetes under control, a must for better overall health.

Try to put your joints through a full range of motion at least once a day, to prevent them stiffening up. Your body is designed to move, and not doing so is harmful to the tissues in and around the joints.

Eat a healthy balanced diet : Eating a healthy balanced diet is very beneficial for achieve a healthy weight and controls inflammation. Try as much as possible to avoid taking refined, processed food. A healthy, balanced, low-fat and nutritional diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables and fibre is good for your general health. Avoid too much meat or animal fat.

Manage stress: 
Read, relax, enjoy a hot bath, and just savor some private quiet time alone. Pace yourself throughout your day and take breaks to conserve energy.

Improve your sleep habit: 
Poor sleep habits can worsen arthritis pain and fatigue, but there are things you can do to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Make your bedroom dark, cool and quiet, avoid caffeine or strenuous exercise in the evening, and wind down with a warm bath or practice relaxation techniques before bedtime. Talk to your doctor about a change in or timing of your medication or other ways that may improve your sleep.


If you invest in yourself and recognize your responsibility and ability to take good care of yourself, you can live well with arthritis. 

Take vitamin c: Studies have shown that vitamin C may be helpful in managing inflammation in the body. You can have an orange which is rich in vitamin c or pour yourself a glass of grapefruit juice each day.

Quit smoking cigarettes: Smoking causes stress on connective tissues, which can increase arthritis pain.

Inform your doctor about arthritis if: The pain and stiffness of your joint come on quickly, whether from an injury or an unknown cause, if pain is accompanied by fever and is associated with redness and extreme tenderness of the join or you notice pain and stiffness in your arms, legs, or back after sitting for short periods or after a night’s sleep for pain relief medications. 

Make your doctor your partner in care and maintain an open line of communication.

  Finally arthritis can affect people in different ways and this makes it difficult for doctors to predict a clear outcome for any one patient. 
  Early diagnosis and treatment can save more than joints, protect your joints from ongoing pain and permanent damage of uncontrolled inflammation. Some types of arthritis can cause internal damage to the heart and other organs from the start. 
 Prompt treatment can protect your overall health. Read more on Arthritis Foundation