| The word 'arthritis' (plural = 'arthritides') comes from | | | | isolated the active compound that provided that relief |
| the Greek ('arthro' = 'joint' and 'itis' = 'inflammation'). It | | | | and called it 'salicin'. However, they also found that |
| is really a blanket term for a group of arthritides, | | | | salicin had some very unpleasant effects on the |
| which includes: rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic | | | | stomach. In 1897, an employee of the Bayer Dye |
| arthritis, which are both autoimmune diseases (i.e. the | | | | Corporation, Felix Hoffman, succeeded in producing a |
| body is attacking itself); septic arthritis caused by (a | | | | non-irritating form of salicin in an attempt to relieve |
| previous) infection; gouty arthritis (often just called | | | | his father's arthritis. Bayer trademarked the secret |
| gout), which is caused by abrasive deposits of uric | | | | and marketed it under the name of 'Aspirin' in 1899. It |
| acid in the joints; pseudo gout, caused by deposits of | | | | is estimated that more than one trillion Aspirin have |
| other crystals and last and most common, | | | | been sold to date. |
| osteoarthritis, which is a degenerative ailment. It can | | | | The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis |
| be caused by a previous infection or just aging - | | | | or (osteo)arthrosis. It is estimated that 80% of |
| ordinary or excessive wear and tear. | | | | Americans will show signs of it age 65, although not |
| All types of arthritis feature pain, although it may not | | | | all will have significant pain or swelling. It is often, but |
| be severe. In osteoarthritis, suffering is typically at | | | | not always, typified by swollen joints, which may |
| night or after periods of rest (associated with | | | | become filled with liquid. Many sufferers report more |
| stiffness) and with rheumatoid arthritis pain is usual in | | | | pain in wet weather or at the approach of wet |
| the morning. Even if pain is not severe effects of | | | | weather (humidity build-up). Ingestion of vitamins C |
| arthritis will be lack of use of the limb in children and | | | | and E may help as, to a lesser degree, may selenium, |
| an unwillingness to move around in older sufferers. A | | | | chondroitin, ginger root, glucosamine and vitamins B9 |
| physical examination is usually the first step to | | | | and B12. Joints may be replaced in extreme cases |
| diagnosis followed up by blood tests and or X-rays to | | | | and after any necessary significant weight loss. |
| determine the exact type of disease. | | | | Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory |
| Forms of arthritis have been around since before | | | | autoimmune disorder. It is usually worse in the |
| man evolved. The remains of dinosaurs show | | | | mornings getting slightly better as the joints worm up |
| evidence of primary ankle osteoarthritis and | | | | (the opposite of osteoarthritis). Approximately three |
| mummified human remains from 4,000 BC show that | | | | people per thousand develop it; often in the 40-60 |
| Europeans (Oetzi), Pharoahs and Native American | | | | age group. It is three-five times more common in |
| Indians were all sufferers. The history of treatment is | | | | women than men and more common in smokers |
| also quite old. Circa 500BC, it was discovered that | | | | than non-smokers. An early symptom is early morning |
| ingesting willow bark provided some relief. In the | | | | joint stiffness lasting more than one hour. |
| 1820s, some 2,000 years later, Western scientists | | | | |