The term Arthritis has been derived from ‘arth’ which means joint, and ‘itis’, which means inflammation. It is an umbrella term which includes over 100 types of arthritis, mainly affecting the joints, causing redness, swelling, heat, stiffness, and pain in the affected area. These can range from comparatively mild forms of bursitis and tendonitis, to forms that are crippling, like Psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The types of arthritis also include disorders like systemic lupus Erythematosus and pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia, which affect all parts of the body. The pain that accompanies the various types of arthritis usually is caused due to the inflammation of the lining of the joint. While many types of arthritis do affect the elderly, however, there are also types that children also get. Also, although the incidence of arthritis rises with age, however, almost 3 out of 5 people get affected by arthritis below the age of 65.

Many of the types of arthritis given below can result in permanent damage to the bones, joints, skin, and organs.

Osteoarthritis: Also referred to as degenerative joint disease, this type of arthritis is caused due to wear and tear, and is associated with aging. It affects weight-bearing joints like the knees, hips, spine, feet, and base of the thumb. Mechanical and genetic factors are thought to play a major role. Some of the other risk factors are obesity, trauma to the joint, and repetitive use of the joint. Read the rest of this entry »