Arthritis

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a disease which causes damage to the joints of the body.Arthritis is a general cause to the disability of people older than fifty five years.Arthritis exists in different forms, with different causes.The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis.It may be caused by a severe accident, infection of the joints or older age.Other arthritis forms are rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, autoimmune diseases in which the body attacks itself.More forms of arthritis are Septic arthritis, caused by joint infection.Secondly Gouty arthritis, caused by deposition of uric acid crystals in the joint.



Symptoms

Symptoms are pattern of joint involvement,early morning stiffness, tenderness, gelling or locking with inactivity, aggravating and relieving factors, and other systemic symptoms.Physical examination may confirm or indicate systemic disease.



Treatment

Treatment basically depends on the specific form of arthritis.Mostly treatments include physical and occupational therapy, lifestyle changes (including exercise and weight control), medications and dietary supplements(targeting on the type of arthritis). Arthroplasty (joint replacement surgery) may be required in eroding forms of arthritis.

Infact, physical exercising of the affected joint can improve the conditions in terms of long-term pain relief.Another form of non-drug treatment to support the disease is marine oil, from fish. Diets high in marine oils from cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna reduces the inflammation of joint conditions such as arthritis. Massage on joints with neem oil has reported improvement in chronic and acute cases.