What are the Types of Arthritis?
Osteoarthritis
This
is the most common type of arthritis. It is also known as
"degenerative joint disease" which usually affects
the weight bearing joints such as the fingers, knees and hips.
Osteoarthritis is a result of mechanical wear and tear among
the joints. Almost everyone at the age of 70 or older has
osteoarthritis but not all of them would get the symptoms
of arthritis.
Rheumatoid
Arthritis
This is caused by the abnormal response of the immune system
that attacks the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis affects not
only the joints but also the tissues of the body including
the internal organs, blood vessels, heart, lungs and muscles.
Gouty arthritis
This disease is caused by the buildup of uric acid. Gouty
arthritis is triggered by monosodium urate (uric acid forms)
crystals that have been deposited on the articular cartilage
of tendons, joints and surrounding tissues. These uric crystal
acid deposits promote inflammatory response from the body
. The buildup of uric acid crystals is caused by elevated
levels of uric acid in the blood stream.
Psoriatic
arthritis
A type of arthritis that is associated with psoriasis. Psoriasis
is a long term disease accompanied by scaly red and white
patches that develop on the skin. The cause of psoriasis is
an overdriven immune system causing excessive inflammation.
About 20% of people who have psoriatic arthritis will develop
"psoriatic spondylitis" where there is inflammation
in the spine. Psoriatic Arthritis may affect any joint in
the body.
References:
Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/
National
Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
http://www.niams.nih.gov/
National Institutes of Health
http://www.nih.gov/
Arthritis
Foundation
http://www.arthritis.org
American College of Rheumatology
http://www.rheumatology.org
Page
last updated: May 02, 2008
|
