Our hands and wrists have a lot of small joints that work together when we move them. When a joint in these is affected by arthritis, is makes it hard for us to move the whole hand or wrist. That being mentioned, it also means that hand arthritis may occur in different and multiple areas.

While hand arthritis is commonly disregarded by many, it is America's leading condition that leads to disability. Arthritis is mostly common to people who are over the age of 40, however, it can also occur to those in their early twenties. Even the healthy ones have the possibility of suffering from hand arthritis.

Below are the symptoms of hand arthritis.

* The first symptom is a mild pain in the joint, experienced as a 'dull' or 'burning' feeling. The pain increases as one continues to move the affected joint. The pain becomes more and more distinguishable after a few days. The pain is mostly noticed in the mornings. The affected area shows stiffness in the mornings, too.

* The area affected may swell when the joint is moved as it used to be. These joints can no longer handle the same pressure and stress. Swellings indicate that they are being overexerted.

* The joint affected will feel warm. This is because of the inflammation inside.

* Joints near the arthritic joint may be affected, they may become move movable than normal, or they may also affected if the hand is not well taken care of.

* Crepitation, or the 'grinding' kind of sensation in the joint affected may be experienced. Damaged cartilages, due to a trauma or disease, will rub against each other.

* There are also instances when the joint feels 'loose'. When this is experienced, it means that the arthritis is caused by damage in the ligaments.

* There are also advanced cases where the joints affected appear larger than their normal size. This condition is called hypertrophic, and is an advanced case of hand arthritis.

* Small cysts may start to develop when arthritis begins to affect the fingers' end joints.

When the above mentioned symptoms are noticed, visit a professional and seek help. The first treatments for hand arthritis may vary, according to age, or according to the stage of the condition. The following are some of the treatments that can be done as soon as any of the symptoms discussed above is noticed.

* Exercise your hands and wrists. You can ask a professional about this. Get two boxes of bolts or nuts. Fill one of the boxes and leave the other one empty. Grab a handful of bolts or nuts, whichever you prefer, carefully hold them, and transfer them to the other hand, making sure that you are neither gripping too tightly or too loose. Try this exercise until the other box is full. This helps in exercising the joints in the hands and wrists.

* Stop smoking. Smoking has been proven to increase one's risk in arthritis. A healthy diet will also help in decreasing the risks.

* Strengthen your body with exercise, without overexerting yourself.

* Herbal supplements that can make the cartilages healthy can be taken.