Arthritis is one of the most pervasive diseases in the United States and is the
leading cause of disability. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention
one out every three Americans (an estimated 70 million people) is affected.
For most people arthritis pain and inflammation cannot be avoided as the body ages.
In fact, most people over the age of 50 show some signs of arthritis. Joints naturally
degenerate over time. Fortunately, arthritis can often be managed with Acupuncture
and Oriental Medicine.
Arthritis isn’t just 1 disease; it’s a complex disorder that comprises more than
100 distinct conditions and can affect people at any stage of life. Two of the most
common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. While these 2 forms of
arthritis have very different causes, risk factors, and effects on the body, they
often share a common symptom-persistent joint pain.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is most common form of arthritis in the United States, affecting
an estimated 21 million adults. OA begins with the breakdown of join cartilage,
resulting in pain and stiffness.
OA commonly affects the joints of the fingers, knees, hips, and spine. Other joints
affected less frequently include the wrists, elbows, shoulders, and ankles. When
OA is found in a less frequently affected joint, there is usually a history of injury
on affected joint, there is usual stress to that joint. Work-related repetitive
injury and physical trauma may contribute to the development of OA. If you have
a strenuous job that requires repetitive bending, kneeling or squatting, for example,
you may be at high risk for OA of the knee.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can affect many different joints and, in some people,
other parts of the body as well, including the blood, the lungs, and the heart.
Inflammation of the joint lining, called the synovium, can cause pain, stiffness,
swelling, warmth, and redness. The affected joint may also lose its shape, resulting
in loss of normal movement. RA can last a long time and can be a disease of flares
(active symptoms) and remissions (few to no symptoms).
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