Arthritis is actually a general term for any of about one hundred different diseases that cause swelling, stiffness and pain in the joints. It is the top cause of disability in the United States, affecting about 40 million people, or forty percent of the population. While primarily considered a disease of age, arthritis also affects almost 300,000 children in the U.S. Arthritis crosses all boundaries of social strata; economic status, gender, geographic location and race.

What exactly is arthritis and how can we avoid and treat it?

In a normal joint, cartilage cushions the area where the bones meet. Cartilage is a strong, smooth, elastic tissue, which, along with the bone ends is encased in a joint capsule. The joint capsule is filled with synovial fluid, which secretes from the synovial membrane lining the capsule and further cushions the joint. Arthritis is experienced when anything goes wrong with this system, and pain results.

Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative joint disease, is the most common form. It is most common in people over 55 and affects approximately 20 million Americans. OA is created by the breakdown of the cartilage cushion between the bones, creating friction at the bone ends, which manifests as pain and swelling. In some cases bone spurs will also develop, exacerbating the problem. It is most commonly found in the large, weight bearing joints of the knees and hips, but is also common in the spine, hands and feet. It can however, affect any joint in the body.

Rheumatoid, or inflammatory arthritis is somewhat different from OA. Here, the synovial membrane becomes inflamed and swollen causing the pain and stiffness. Blood flow is increased to the area because of chemicals released by the inflamed tissue and this can cause the joint to appear red and feel hot. Inflammatory arthritis may be caused by immune system deficiencies, crystal deposits in the joints, or infection.

In any case, the patient will tend to favor the painful area, often holding it stiffly to ease the pain. This can cause the supporting muscles to weaken from disuse and also create serious tightness in the tendons that support them. All of this combined can cause the joints to contract or change shape and may result in complete loss of movement in the affected joint.

Doctors who treat arthritis, called rheumatologists, have a variety of diagnostic tools to use to determine the type and severity of a patient's arthritis. As there is currently no known cure, treatment is applied to ease pain and increase mobility. Various pain killing and anti-inflammatory drugs; rest and exercise are tools available to aid the patient. There are a few drugs for specific types of arthritis that can slow the advance of the disease.

Regular, light exercise is a most important key to not just treating, but avoiding arthritis. For patients with arthritis an excellent exercise is swimming, as it allows activity with little joint pressure. Exercise, plenty of rest, a constant intake of fluids to keep well hydrated and a good diet with supplementation can all help to prevent arthritis.