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Arthritis
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Types of Arthritis
According to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), arthritis is the leading cause of disability in people 15 years
of age and older.
There are more than 100 types of arthritis. (The word arthritis
literally means “joint inflammation.”) The most common type,
osteoarthritis (OA), is a degenerative disease of the cartilage and
bone that results in pain and stiffness in the affected joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)—a systemic disease characterized by joint
inflammation and pain—is far less common than osteoarthritis but
potentially much more serious. The exact cause of RA is unknown.
Both Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis are chronic conditions;
there is no cure for arthritis. The good news is that tremendous
strides have been made in the management and treatment of arthritis and
related conditions. In addition, there are many things you can do to
make living with arthritis easier and less painful.
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a disease which affects joints in the body. The surface of the joint is damaged and the surrounding bone grows thicker. 'Osteo' means bone and 'arthritis' means joint damage and swelling (inflammation). Other words used to describe osteoarthritis are 'osteoarthrosis', 'arthrosis' and 'degenerative joint disease'.
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease of the joints and possibly other organs of the body, marked by stiffness and inflammation of the joints, loss of mobility and deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis is a result of connective tissue destruction when the immune system attacks the body's own tissues. |
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