Arthritis is a severe and painful disease that involves inflammation of the joints where the skin becomes reddened and swollen. It is the disintegration of the cartilage and other joint tissues which results in stiffness, distension and pain in the joint region. Depending on the affected body parts, arthritis is of many types and can happen to people of all age groups including children. Osteoarthritis is a disease that mostly occurs with age as one grows older. The cartilages in the joints wear down and mainly the knee, hip joints, vertebral column and fingers become affected. Another form of this disease is rheumatoid arthritis where the fingers, wrist, elbows, knee joints are mostly afflicted. The cartilage, muscles, tendons and tissues get damaged which can even lead to distorted body proportions. Women are more prone to rheumatoid arthritis as compared to their male counterparts.  The third type is the gouty arthritis which is an excruciatingly painful disease that mostly attacks the great toe, ankles knees and elbows. If left untreated, then after sometime the bones related to the cartilage slowly starts to erode that might lead to impairment. Its main cause is the gathering up of uric acid in the joints. Usually ten percent of the patients suffering from it later even develop stone. Infectious arthritis, if left undiagnosed, results in irreparable joint damage. It spreads through bacterial infections in the body.

Symptoms and Bad Effects:

Arthritis affects the normal functioning of a person’s daily life devastatingly. The patient experiences appalling aches, stiffness, fatigue, tiredness, depression, swelling and goes through severe pain in different parts of the body. People suffering from arthritis show increased absenteeism in work and also complain of difficulty in walking, fever, insomnia and weight loss. These signs and symptoms are more prone to be noticed at the onset of seasonal changes. Patients can also develop a collagen vascular disorder called lupus along with arthritis, where they can suffer from hair loss, photo sensitivity and constant severe joint pains. They are also prone to obesity, high cholesterol and increased chances of heart attacks.

Causes:

The main cause of arthritis is the accumulation of uric acid in the joints. Studies have revealed that people who consume excessive protein rich diets are more prone to this disease. Those who engage in high level sports activities are prone to joint injuries which might even lead to arthritis.  Lack of exercise, excess body weight, previous major injuries, tibia plateau fracture, constipation, indigestion, heartburn and excessive intake of some medicines can be cited as some of the causes that lead to arthritis. Eating excessive fried foods, salt, sugar, processed meat, alcohol, caffeine, red fleshed fish, margarine and milk can also aggravate the chances of developing arthritis later.

Treatment:

Endurance and strength training exercises are very effective in reducing stiffness of joints, especially for those suffering from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Physiotherapy sessions and treatments including hydrotherapy, hot and cold bath and putting ice aids in decreasing pain and inflammation of the joints. Pour warm salty water in a tub and soak the body in it for about thirty minutes. Yoga is a holistic scientific method that is a boon for all patients suffering from intense arthritic pain. Yoga asanas like padmasan, vrajasana, sidhasana, bhujangasana and singhasana are very useful in treating arthritis completely.

With simple lifestyle changes, one can observe profound positive changes in their condition.One should bring about changes in their diet plan which helps in repairing the body faster. To dissolve the excessive quantities of uric acid in the body and balance out its proportions, one can fast for two three days  on the juices made of potassium rich food, cucumber, watermelon, white papaya, cauliflower etc. Have food that are rich in calcium and magnesium that will help in building up a strong bone structure. Drink plenty of water. Garlic and pineapple are two wonder foods that are very effective in treating inflammation. Green leafy vegetables which are a great source of calcium and vitamins should be consumed in abundance. Avoid the intake of caffeine, red meat, pulses, dairy products, fried food, sugar, salt, chocolates and tomatoes as these tend to flare up arthritis. Celery and ginger are good food for arthritis patients as they contain anti-inflammatory properties.

Certain medicated drugs like acetaminophen and ibuprofen are used in the treatment of this painful disease. Note that these medicines are to be taken only on doctor’s prescription as they might cause side effects and aggravate your conditions. Herbal treatments of the medication of Methyl sulfonyl methane and Cetyl Myristoleate have shown to be efficacious in repairing the worn out cartilage.  Massaging the affected area with lukewarm coconut or mustard oil mixed with a little camphor is helpful in reducing the stiffness of joints. Gelatin and glucosamine helps to rebuild the cartilage and reduce swelling of the joints.