Arthritis – By creating man, nature makes him one of the most perfect beings on Earth. In it she puts 206 bones – the main components of the skeleton, 640 muscles, which by shortening and lengthening their size ensure the free movement of the body in space, 187 joints to ensure this process . and over 100 joint diseases that to limit it. According to the World Health Organization, about 60-70% of patients in the world suffer from arthritis, and this disease is not only observed in the elderly, but even in 20-year-olds, especially if they play professional sports.
Arthritis is a disease that is characterized by inflammatory changes in one or more joints in the human body. The group of arthritis includes a very large number of diseases, and what they have in common is the tendency to proceed with pain, stiffness, swelling, redness and impaired joint function. Inflammation of the joint in arthritis can affect not only its immediate structures, but also the adjacent auxiliary connective tissue structures such as tendons, muscles, ligaments, bones.
There are many different reasons for the development of this disease, but most often they are infectious, toxic and traumatic in nature. Arthritis mainly affects young people and children – it is called infectious polyarthritis, and in old age there is the so-called deforming arthritis. Many infectious diseases lead to joint damage, such as tuberculosis, syphilis, dysentery.
Influenza and colds are the other prerequisite for the development of such diseases. In various purulent inflammatory processes in the body, the joints can also be affected. The cold sea is the enemy of bones and joints, and moisture and cold can lead to arthritis, rheumatism and thorns. The danger is especially great for people whose parents have problems with the musculoskeletal system.
According to doctors, the main cause of arthritis remains toxemia – the transformation of food into toxic material. The wrong combinations of foods, large amounts of sugar, spices, tea, coffee, alcohol, tobacco, allergic reactions to dust, chemicals and medications are powerful factors in the development of arthritis. Biological sulfur deficiency may also be associated with symptoms of arthritis and fibromyalgia. Any form of exhaustion, emotional insecurity and physical fatigue also contribute to joint inflammation.
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Typical symptoms of arthritis
Inflammation of the joints usually proceeds differently, depending on the cause. The diseased joint is painful, swollen and has reduced mobility – the main features of the initial stage of arthritis. The pain comes from various sources – inflammation of the synovial membrane, tendons and ligaments, muscle spasm and fatigue. There is an increase in body temperature, weight loss, malaise, fatigue and complaints from various affected organs (lung, heart, eyes, etc.).
The combination of these factors, together with individual pain tolerance, determines the nature and severity of the pain. Once inflammation develops, the joints begin to damage. For example:
- in infectious arthritis there is a relatively rapid redness, pain, swelling, usually affects one joint, and worsens the general condition of the body;
- in rheumatoid arthritis, numbness is usually reported early in the morning in the affected joints, and in advanced stages there is deformity of the joints and weakening of the muscles around them. Again, there is pain, swelling and warmth. Arthritis in connective tissue diseases develops against the background of non-specific fever, weight loss, complaints from the heart, lungs and other internal organs.
Arthritis can lead to deformities and destruction of cartilage, so failure to treat this disease could make a person disabled.
The most common forms of arthritis
Inflammation of the joints in the human body occurs in the course of many diseases, which are included in the large group of arthritis. Each of the diseases in this group causes a different complex of complaints, is detected and treated differently, but what they all have in common is inflammation to varying degrees of one or more joints
- infectious arthritis – inflammation of the joint occurs as a result of the penetration of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi into the joint itself, and these microorganisms can reach the joint through the blood (from other sources of infection in the body) or by direct penetration in surgery, puncture or injection intervention on the joint).
- Rheumatoid arthritis – is an inflammation of the joint as a result of an atypical response of the body’s immune system to an unknown cause. This disease is chronic (practically incurable) and is associated with the genetic predisposition of patients to the malfunction of the body’s “defense systems”, which begin to attack their own structures. So far no specific cause of this disease has been identified. Unfortunately, this disease also occurs in children (more often in girls), so it is very important to diagnose it early.
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gouty arthritis – due to a defect in the metabolism of certain substances (and food), in some joints accumulates a large amount of uric acid crystals, which causes inflammation, occurring in seizures.
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reactive arthritis – no direct penetration of an infectious agent into the joint cavity is observed. The body’s immune system reacts to an existing infection, thus affecting some joints (the cause is still unknown).
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post-traumatic arthritis – arthritis after trauma, as the inflammation is caused by changes that result from injury to the joint and surrounding structures.
- wear and tear arthritis – also known as “osteoarthritis” in the English and American literature, and in our country it is known as “osteoarthritis”, the emphasis is on the changes that occur when the structures of the joint wear out. This disease is characteristic of the elderly, this includes coxarthrosis – affects the hip joints and gonarthrosis – affects the knee joints.
- other, less common forms of arthritis are those that accompany the disease: psoriasis; arthritis in Bechterew’s disease; arthritis accompanying ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease; arthritis in Lyme disease; arthritis in hepatitis B and C.
Some forms of arthritis are acute, ie the complaints appear for a short time and then disappear as a result of treatment, while other chronic diseases most often occur with seizures and asymptomatic periods. A large proportion of arthritis, which occurs with a disease-altered “protective response” on the part of the body’s own immune system, tends to affect the internal organs.
How does arthritis damage the joints?
Regardless of the specific type of arthritis and the cause of its occurrence inside the joint, an inflammatory reaction develops. Inflammation is known to be a protective mechanism of the body. Certain cells of the immune system, located in the blood and bone marrow, penetrate the joint and accumulate in the synovial membrane. These cells are different for different types of arthriis. Fluid builds up in the inflamed synovial membrane, causing swelling and swelling of the joint.
This inflammation causes warming of the joint and the tissues around it, increases the activity of all processes. The immune system’s protective cells secrete substances that irritate the receptors in the membrane and cause pain. Swelling and inflammation cause stiffness in the joint and damage to the tissues inside, as a result of which the muscles also weaken.
How to protect yourself?
Prevention is possible for some types of arthritis. The following measures may be useful:
- vaccination against tuberculosis and hepatitis B;
- timely treatment of all infections in the body;
- practicing safe sex;
- reducing overweight; avoiding extreme loads on the joint;
- the avoidance of injuries and the use of protectors in the practice of certain sports;
- regular preventive examinations of people with a genetic predisposition.
In conclusion, we can summarize that regular exercise and sports, combined with healthy eating since childhood, would protect us not only from arthritis, but also from many other insidious diseases.
