| When the body is in pain, everything | | | | straining or high-level sports or |
| makes the world turn upside down. The | | | | exercises may cause injury in the joints |
| aches and pains make every minute of | | | | which later develop into arthritis. In |
| your life a disaster. So how do you deal | | | | such cases, it is all a matter of |
| with arthritis? | | | | outweighing the risks and benefits of |
| In dealing with this disease, we should | | | | the sport. A balance of doing things is |
| get acquainted with what arthritis is | | | | still necessary. An illness or infection |
| all about. It is a condition that causes | | | | in the joint, like in the septic joint, |
| joint swelling, pain, stiffness and loss | | | | gout and other medical conditions may |
| of function. Arthritis consists of a | | | | lead to arthritis of the joints. |
| hundred related diseases and conditions. | | | | People at Risk |
| They may be in the form of | | | | Studies show that people who are |
| osteoarthritis, gout, fibromyalgia, | | | | vulnerable to arthritis are older, |
| rheumatoid arthritis, etc. | | | | usually females, experiencing a poor |
| Although body aches, joint pains, and | | | | quality of life. In the U.S. alone, |
| bone swellings may sound ordinary to | | | | arthritis is one of the most common |
| athletic or aging individuals with | | | | health problems of Americans. In 2001, |
| arthritis, some of its forms | | | | 49 million American adults are told to |
| particularly rheumatoid arthritis and | | | | have arthritis with a ratio of one in |
| lupus have damaging effects to the body | | | | every four. As more people mature in the |
| organs that may lead to complications | | | | next 25 years, higher cases of arthritis |
| and eventually premature death. | | | | are yet to be reported. |
| Causes of Arthritis | | | | Arthritis and other disabilities related |
| Identifying the causes of arthritis is | | | | to joint pains cause irritations and |
| not easy because there are a number of | | | | burden in accomplishing your work. You |
| contributing factors that may lead to | | | | can never be as efficient since your |
| this problem. Whether genetics has | | | | body in not in good shape. Workload, |
| something to do with it needs further | | | | especially in working mothers, is |
| research. However, some studies say that | | | | delimited in such instances of arthritic |
| genetic variations contribute to the | | | | pain. Mothers' responsibilities both as |
| causes of arthritis. | | | | parents and career women worsen the |
| As people grow older, the bones become | | | | complications of arthritis. Others are |
| brittle and less likely to repair | | | | even forced to quit their jobs due to |
| themselves. As a result, they may | | | | disability. |
| develop arthritis. Body weight is | | | | Combating Arthritic Pain |
| another factor to consider in arthritis. | | | | In treating arthritis or rheumatic |
| This has something to do with the | | | | diseases, there are several treatments |
| limited load that the joint can support, | | | | available. A wide range of choices |
| especially a burden among obese or heavy | | | | include relaxation and exercise, |
| people. Joint damage is usually | | | | balanced diet, proper medication, |
| experienced in the hips and knees where | | | | regular exercise, proper use of joints |
| bones easily worn out quickly. | | | | and other energy conservation |
| Personal accidents such as car | | | | techniques. Doctors may sometimes |
| accidents, falling from a high place, or | | | | require the use of splints and braces. |
| bumping into a sharp or rough object may | | | | In severe cases, a surgery is necessary |
| also cause joint damage or injury. For | | | | to reduce the pain experienced. |
| example knee fracture, the bone | | | | The general rule in the treating |
| fractured affects the cartilage of the | | | | arthritis is to balance rest and |
| knee joint. Workers engaged in | | | | activity. Too much rest makes the |
| occupational hazards involving manual | | | | muscles and joints too stiff, meanwhile, |
| carrying of heavy loads in the | | | | overwork leads to fatigue. Exercise |
| construction sites or assembly motor | | | | reduces joint pains and stiffness and |
| shops are mostly like to suffer from | | | | generates flexibility, strength and |
| arthritis. | | | | endurance. It also helps to reduce |
| Although joining athletics or enrolling | | | | weight and a good sense of well-being. |
| in gyms has good benefits, some | | | | |