What is arthritis, and what are the most common types?

Arthritis is a disease that causes inflammation of the membrane that covers the joints. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, but the most common are:

• Osteoarthritis: The most common type of arthritis. It usually develops with age, and affects the fingers, knees, and hips. In some cases, it develops in areas where there was a previous hit or injury.
• Inflammatory arthritis: There are many types of inflammatory arthritis, the most common of which is rheumatoid arthritis, which occurs when the body's defenses do not work properly. It affects both joints and bones, often in the hands and feet.

What are the symptoms of arthritis?

There are a substantial amount of symptoms of arthritis. The main ones include the following:

• joint pain
• joint inflammation
• redness and heat of the skin around the joint
• decreased ability to move the joint
• joint stiffness, especially in the morning

What are the main causes?

The development of arthritis in a person can have many causes. Typically, the pathology can be a consequence of:

• bone fracture
• autoimmune disease
• infection by bacteria or viruses
• joint wear-and-tear
• crystals (such as uric acid or calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate)

Can arthritis be prevented?

Joint damage can be prevented with timely and adequate diagnosis and treatment. Also, if someone has a family history, it is important to talk with the doctor, even if s/he does not have any symptoms.

It is also recommended to avoid repetitive and excessive movements to prevent osteoarthritis.

How is it treated?

The treatment for arthritis aims to alleviate the symptoms and prevent the disease from getting worse.

The treatment can be covered by several aspects:

• lifestyle changes, including eating a healthy diet, and avoiding alcohol and tobacco
• medication
• surgery
• physiotherapy

When is surgery required to treat arthritis?

Surgery is performed if other treatment methods have not worked. The main intervention is medically referred to as an arthroplasty, which consists of replacing the affected joint with an artificial one.

Can arthritis lead to numbness?

Yes, arthritis can indeed cause numbness and a tingling sensation in a person's joints. Both are generally caused by nerve tissue damage. 

Might I get arthritis if I crack my knuckles?

Evidence and research strongly suggests that cracking your knuckles does not actually increase your risk of suffering from arthritis.

However, if you repeatedly injure your joint or cause it to swell, your risk of potentially suffering from osteoarthritis is increased. 

How is arthritis diagnosed?

When you present to your doctor with arthritis-related symptoms, he or she will carry out an X-ray and check for skin rashes, tender points in your body, swelling, and/or any other problems with various other parts of your body. You will also be asked to try to move the affected joint as much as is physically possible. 

The final stage of the diagnosis will involve blood tests, urine tests, muscle tests, and joint fluid tests. All of these tests assist the doctor greatly when it comes to diagnosing what exact type of arthritis you may have. 

Which specialist treats arthritis?

A rheumatologist is the medical professional who specialises in diagnosing and treating arthritis. 

What age group does it affect most?

It is generally thought that arthritis is just a part of one's ageing process. However, this is not always the case. Increasing age is a common risk factor, but in fact, almost 60 per cent of people diagnosed with arthritis are under the age of 65. You are not likely to suffer from the condition if you are under the age of 40. 

Apart from age, what are the main risk factors?

Middle-aged and elderly women who have a family history of arthritis are at a high risk of developing the joint-affecting condition.

Those who are overweight and/or who have had previous joint injuries are also considered to be high-risk individuals when it comes to developing arthritis. 

Are there any foods that help ease arthritis symptoms?

There are, in fact, some foods that can help people who have arthritis. The following foods are the most highly recommended:

• walnuts
• eggs
• wild salmon and other cold-water fish
• ginger

What foods should I avoid if I have arthritis?

It is generally advised that patients with arthritis avoid processed foods, margarine, and vegetable shortenings. 

What are the most effective home remedies for arthritis?

Both hot and cold therapies can do the world of good when it comes to relieving arthritis flare-ups. People may find applying a heated object or frozen pees to the affected joint eases pain significantly.

People who wake up with stiff and swollen hands should consider wearing gloves to bed.