Saturday 12th October is World Arthritis Day, and to spread awareness, we’ve created this handy little guide so you know more about the condition.
What is Arthritis?
đź“ť’There is thought to be 10 million people with some form of arthritis in the UK.‘-Arthritis Action
Arthritis is a condition, which causes inflammation, stiffness and pain in a person’s joints. Inflammation is common for everyone to have from time to time, as it is a result of your body’s natural healing process- it is similar to a combination of a bruise and swelling on the inside of the joints, which results in pain and stiffness. However, if the pain doesn’t go away after a few days or it’s painful to touch, then it’s best to contact your local GP.
Arthritis can come in many different forms, with osteoarthritis being the most common.
Types of Arthritis
Osteoarthritis used to be called ‘wear and tear’ arthritis, as it was thought that joints gradually wear out with use, which would explain why the condition is most common amongst older people.
However, it’s much more complicated than that- minor injuries that can come from regular, everyday movement trigger the body to begin the healing and repair process to the joints, which causes the inflammation. During this process, some people feel no pain, but for some, it can be severe and moving becomes difficult.
Fortunately, the condition is not inevitable, and for some people, it is only temporary.
No one knows exactly what causes osteoarthritis, but it may be due to small, repeated injuries over time that don’t heal completely. It also runs in families, and is more common for people who are overweight (due to more stress being put on the joints in the hips and knees).
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the second most common form of arthritis and can affect anyone of any age. In comparison to osteoarthritis, which is caused by the healing process in the joints, RA is the opposite, where the immune system is attacking the joints. This, too, results in pain, stiffness and inflammation.
It’s important that this is diagnosed as soon as possible so the necessary treatments can be administered to avoid extreme damage to the joints.
Like Osteoarthritis, it is unknown what exactly causes rheumatoid arthritis to develop, but it is more common in women, people who smoke, and people who are overweight.
What Causes Arthritis
As mentioned, there is no direct cause for arthritis, but the following factors may contribute to your likelihood of developing the condition:
Symptoms
The common symptoms across all types of arthritis include:
- Joint pain, tenderness and stiffness
- Inflammation in and around the joints
- Restricted movement of the joints
- Warm red skin over the affected joint
- Weakness and muscle wasting
The most commonly affected areas of the body are the:
- Hands
- Spine
- Hips
- Knees
How to Prevent and Treat Arthritis
There’s no direct formula to prevent arthritis, however there’s plenty of things you can do to keep your body healthy, in order to reduce your risk.
đź’šBroomfield Care’s Role
At Broomfield Care, we provide support to adults in the Gloucestershire area, within the comfort of their own homes. We provide a number of services, ranging from personal and specialist care, to welfare checks and social visits.
If you are a suffering with a chronic condition, such as arthritis, our experienced and highly skill care team may be able to help you. For example, we can help you get ready in the morning, provide transport to and from appointments, or even just visit to do some light domestic chores. Contact us today to find out more about the services we provide.
