Artihitis

What is Arthritis ?

The word “arthritis” comes from the Greek words: “arth” and “itis.” “Arth” means joint and “itis” means inflammation. There are many kinds of arthritis with many causes. Arthritis can be caused by inflammation, injury, or infection. Inflammation can cause swelling, pain and stiff- ness.

Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more of your joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis causes cartilage — the hard, slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they form a joint — to break down. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the immune system attacks the joints, beginning with the lining of joints.

Uric acid crystals, which form when there's too much uric acid in your blood, can cause gout. Infections or underlying disease, such as psoriasis or lupus, can cause other types of arthritis.

Treatments vary depending on the type of arthritis. The main goals of arthritis treatments are to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.

Types of Arthritis

  1. Ankylosing spondylitis:-

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a condition that mainly affects the spine. The joints of the neck, back and pelvis become inflamed, causing pain and stiffness. Other joints, such as the hips and shoulders, and other areas of the body such as the eyes, skin, bowel and lungs, can also be involved. Symptoms of AS usually begin between the ages of 15 and 45 years.

         2. Gout

    Gout is a common and painful condition that affects the joints. Small crystals form in and around the joint, causing inflammation, pain and swelling. An attack of gout usually comes on very quickly, often overnight. The joint becomes very red, swollen and extremely painful. Gout normally affects one joint at a time, often the joint of the big toe.

   3. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the name given to a number of types of arthritis that occur in children. We do know that JIA is an autoimmune condition. This means the body’s immune system (its protective mechanism against infection) starts to mistakenly attack healthy cells of the body.

4. Osteoarthritis:-

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of joint disease. It affects the whole joint including bone, cartilage, ligaments and muscles. Although often described as ‘wear and tear’, this is not an accurate description of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is now thought to be the result of a joint working extra hard to repair itself.

5. Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation of the joints. This causes the joints to become painful, stiff and often swollen. Usually only people who have a skin disease called psoriasis are affected by psoriatic arthritis

6. Reactive arthritis

Reactive arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation, pain and swelling of the joints. It usually develops after an infection, often in the bowel or genital areas. The infection causes activity in the immune system.

7. Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis, a common inflammatory form of arthritis, is an autoimmune disease that causes pain and swelling of the joints. In an autoimmune disease, your immune system starts attacking your own healthy tissues. In RA, the immune system targets the lining of the joints, causing inflammation and joint damage.

8. Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a name given to a common group of symptoms marked by generalised pain and muscle stiffness, as well as extreme fatigue.These may range from very mild to severe, and may last for many years or come and go at different times. With the right advice most people find they learn to manage the pain and tiredness over time.

9. Scleroderma

The word ‘scleroderma’ means ‘hard skin’. Scleroderma affects the connective tissues of the body (tissues that hold together joints, muscles, blood vessels and internal organs). Symptoms vary greatly from person to person and also depend on what part of the body is involved.

Some common Symptoms of Arthritis are

• Painful, swollen joints
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Swelling in the feet, legs, hands, or around the eyes
• Rashes, including a "butterfly" rash across the cheeks
• Mouth sores
• Sun sensitivity
• Hair loss
• Blue or white fingers or toes when exposed to cold (Raynaud's phenomenon)
• Blood disorders, like anemia and low levels of white blood cells or platelets
• Chest pain from inflammation of the lining of the heart or lungs

DIAGNOSIS OF ARTHRITIS

To diagnose arthritis, your doctor will consider your symptoms, perform a physical exam to check for swollen joints or loss of motion, and use blood tests and X-rays to confirm the diagnosis.

 X-rays and blood tests also help distinguish the type of arthritis you have Rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages because the early signs and symptoms mimic those of many other diseases. There is no one blood test or physical finding to confirm the diagnosis.

During the physical exam, your doctor will check your joints for swelling, redness and warmth. He or she may also check your reflexes and muscle strength.

Some tests are mentioned below :

Blood tests

People with rheumatoid arthritis often have an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or C-reactive protein (CRP), which may indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. Other common blood tests look for rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies.

Imaging tests

Your doctor may recommend X-rays to help track the progression of rheumatoid arthritis in your joints over time. MRI and ultrasound tests can help your doctor judge the severity of the disease in your body.

Dietary Tips for Arthritis

If you are suffering from arthritis try to include the following foods.

These food really helps reducing the symptoms of arthritis and  

inflammation in the body.

1. Fatty Fish

Fatty fish varieties such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and trout are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to have potent anti-inflammatory effects.

In one small study, 33 participants were fed either fatty fish, lean fish or lean meat four times each week. After eight weeks, the fatty fish group had decreased levels of specific compounds related to inflammation

2. Garlic

Garlic is jam-packed with health benefits.

In some test-tube studies, garlic and its components have been shown to have cancer-fighting properties. They also contain compounds that may lower the risk of heart disease and dementia

3. Ginger

Besides adding a burst of flavor to teas, soups and sweets, ginger may also help ease the symptoms of arthritis.

A 2001 study assessed the effects of ginger extract in 261 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. After six weeks, 63% of participants experienced improvements in knee pain

4. Broccoli

It's no secret that broccoli is one of the healthiest foods out there. In fact, it may even be associated with reduced inflammation.

One study that looked at the diets of 1,005 women found that the intake of cruciferous vegetables like broccoli was associated with decreased levels of inflammatory markers.

5. Walnuts

Walnuts are nutrient-dense and loaded with compounds that may help reduce the inflammation associated with joint disease.

One analysis of 13 studies showed that eating walnuts was associated with reduced markers of inflammation.

6. Berries

Tons of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals are crammed into each serving of berries, which may partially account for their unique ability to decrease inflammation.

In one study of 38,176 women, those who ate at least two servings of strawberries per week were 14% less likely to have an elevated level of inflammatory markers in the blood.

7. Spinach

Leafy greens like spinach are full of nutrients, and some of their components may actually be able to help decrease inflammation caused by arthritis.

Several studies have found that a higher intake of fruits and vegetables is linked to lower levels of inflammation.

8. Grapes

Grapes are nutrient-dense, high in antioxidants and possess anti-inflammatory properties.

In one study, 24 men were given either a concentrated grape powder that was equivalent to about 1.5 cups (252 grams) of fresh grapes, or a placebo daily for three weeks. The grape powder effectively decreased levels of inflammatory markers in the blood.

9. Olive Oil

Well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties, olive oil may have a favorable effect on arthritis symptoms.

In one study, mice were fed extra-virgin olive oil for six weeks. This helped stop the development of arthritis, reduce joint swelling, slow cartilage destruction and decrease inflammation.

10. Red Bell Pepper

All peppers are rich in Vitamin C, but the red bell pepper is one of the best. It also contains plenty of Vitamins A and K along with phytonutrients that act as antioxidants.

Vitamin C is known to reduce pain. Red bell peppers also have a touch of capsaicin, a chili pepper compound, which depletes pain compounds in nerve cells.

 11. Papaya

This fruit is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and enzymes similar to pineapple.

Vitamin C reduces the likelihood of developing arthritis, and Vitamin A acts as another antioxidant to reduce damage.

12. Almonds

These nuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin E, and manganese. Omega-3 reduces inflammation.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects the body from damage. Manganese helps glucosamine work quicker and more effectively as it repairs the joints.

Lifestyle and home remedies

 You can take steps to care for your body if you have rheumatoid arthritis. These self-care measures, when used along with your rheumatoid arthritis medications, can help you manage your signs and symptoms:

•  Exercise regularly. Gentle exercise can help strengthen the muscles around your joints, and it can help fight fatigue you might feel. Check with your doctor before you start exercising. If you're just getting started, begin by taking a walk. Avoid exercising tender, injured or severely inflamed joints.

•  Apply heat or cold. Heat can help ease your pain and relax tense, painful muscles. Cold may dull the sensation of pain. Cold also has a numbing effect and can reduce swelling.

• Relax. Find ways to cope with pain by reducing stress in your life. Techniques such as guided imagery, deep breathing and muscle relaxation can all be used to control pain.

I hope the above Blog helps you in some way and you can reduce your inflammation if suffering from arthritis or get educated for your family member Or a friend who is suffering from arthritis.

If you have any other query you can write in a comment section. 

   You can also find me on 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DtVidhiChawla/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/dietitianvidhi?igshid=vx0rbnybf7zm

Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT9eLubRV6nolY-N_Z_sk-w