ARTHRITIS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT!

Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more joints, causing pain, swelling, or stiffness. You may have one or more of these symptoms depending on how bad the arthritis is. It affects more than 350 million people worldwide and is the leading cause of disability in older adults. 

Words - Dr Ashan Abeywardene

The most common types of arthritis are:

1. Osteoarthritis (OA)- more than 80-90%

• Degenerative joint disease
• Common in older adults
• Affects weight-bearing joints (knees, hips, spine, and shoulders)

2. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) 1-2%

• Autoimmune disease- a disease where antibodies are created against your own joints from your own immune system, which causes inflammation and tissue and cartilage destruction, eventually leading to deformities.
• It is often familial, sometimes may skip one generation 
• This occurs as two peaks around 30-40years and again after 6o years
• The joint involvement is mainly hands and wrists, ie small joints, as opposed to mainly knees in Osteo arthritis.
• Symmetrical joint involvement, specially characterized by morning stiffness- which is prolonged stiffness of fingers, for more than 30 mins especially in the morning.
• Can affect internal organs, with lung and eye manifestation.

3. Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)

• Occurs in people with psoriasis
• Can affect any joint, including fingers and spine

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