
Types of arthritis and their causes
Maria Ivanova

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We usually associate the word “arthritis” with pain, swelling and distortion in the joints. These are its main symptoms, but arthritis is an inflammatory process and the term is used to refer to over 200 conditions affecting the joints, cartilage, bones and connective tissue. Is there a cure for arthritis and what are the three most common forms of arthritis?
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Maria Ivanova
Doctor
We usually associate the word “arthritis” with pain, swelling and distortion in the joints. These are its main symptoms, but arthritis is an inflammatory process and the term is used to refer to over 200 conditions affecting the joints, cartilage, bones and connective tissue. This inflammation impairs a person’s ability to live life to the fullest and perform their daily activities. Is there a cure for arthritis and what are the three most common forms of arthritis?
Артрит
Arthritis has no universal treatment. It depends on the type of the disease, the causes of its occurrence, the age and the general condition of the body. Therapies with drugs, nutritional supplements, physical therapy, sports do not cure arthritis. They aim to control pain and maintain quality of life. Still, living with arthritis is not a sentence, and there are a variety of treatment methods and lifestyle modification strategies that can protect your joints from further damage and immobilization.
There are many different types of arthritis, as well as numerous conditions that are referred to by this term. Some types of arthritis affect only the joints, while others also affect other organs of the body. What are the three most common forms of arthritis that affect the joints?
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It is caused by a decrease in the amount of cartilage tissue that covers and cushions the movement of the joint and allows it to move smoothly and painlessly. Cartilage is a tough, rubber-like, flexible connective tissue that covers the ends of bones in healthy joints. Consisting mainly of water and protein, its main function is to reduce friction in the joints and act as a ‘shock absorber’. Under pressure, normal cartilage changes shape and cushions movement. With reduced cartilage tissue, the joint does not move smoothly and this often causes inflammation, bone injury, tendon deterioration. The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain, swelling and deformation of the joint, reduced flexibility and stiffness.
These symptoms are mostly felt in weight-bearing joints, such as the knees, hips and spine, but also often occur in the joints of the fingers and toes. Osteoarthritis can develop at any age, but it tends to occur more often in people over the age of 40, active athletes, or people who engage in active physical activity.
Mild to moderate osteoarthritis symptoms are usually well managed with a combination of drug therapy and lifestyle changes. Medical recommendations for treatment include taking topical pain relievers, oral analgesics, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that help relieve pain.
Moderate exercise, healthy eating and weight loss can have a very positive effect on cartilage recovery and reducing the burden on the joint. Nutritional supplements also play an important role in managing osteoarthritis. There are certain active ingredients that have been proven to help relieve painful symptoms and joint stiffness. Glucosamine is a natural compound found in cartilage, but its intake in the form of a dietary supplement is extremely important. It helps cartilage regeneration, relieves acute discomfort in bones and muscles, and on the other hand, stimulates the process of bone mass formation.
Renovax Rapid includes a powerful combination of glucosamine extracted from crustaceans and shellfish, combined with MSM – an organic sulfur compound that helps relieve general discomfort. The extra strength of the preparation comes from Devil’s Claw extract, which contains the so-called harpagosides as active substance. There is a lot of clinical and scientific data that confirms that taking harpagosides relieves pain. This, in turn, leads to the less frequent use of painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which often irritate the stomach and strain the liver.

Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning the immune system attacks the body’s own cells. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not fully understood. It is believed that the immune system can go “wrong” after an infection or virus and start attacking the joints. It has been suggested that such a reaction can also be caused by the accumulation of certain chemicals in the body.
Rheumatoid arthritis can appear gradually or suddenly, but in all cases it is associated with great discomfort – joint deformation, pain, swelling, redness and stiffness. The swelling can become so severe that simple daily activities such as walking, driving, opening a jar, become difficult or impossible.
Rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age and is associated with fatigue and prolonged stiffness after rest. It causes premature mortality and can impair quality of life. Conditions associated with rheumatoid arthritis are cardiovascular disease (ischemic heart disease and stroke).
The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is very similar to the treatment of osteoarthritis. Pain relievers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucosamine, a healthy diet consisting mainly of fish, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables, legumes, olive oil, whole grains.
Gout
Gout is a fairly common form of arthritis. It is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness and tenderness in one or more joints, most commonly in the big toe. A gout attack can occur suddenly. The patient often wakes up in the middle of the night with the feeling that his big toe is on fire. The affected joint is hot, swollen, and so tender that even the weight of a sheet on it can feel unbearable.
Therefore, the way of eating is very important for people with gout. Sports and weight control are also important factors in achieving improvement and reducing the frequency of painful attacks.
Different types of arthritis are caused by different causes and concomitant diseases in the body. But they also have one thing in common – they cause extremely unpleasant symptoms and lead to permanent changes in the joints and deterioration of the quality of life. Is there anything we can do to prevent them? Yes, a healthy diet, physical activity and supportive nutritional supplement therapy could help. And if we already have some form of arthritis – they can relieve our symptoms.
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