Arthritis is a disease in which the joints of one's body become damaged for a number of reasons. In fact, the cause of the arthritis also designates its type. While arthritis rarely attacks people of a young age, it is the number one cause of disability in older citizens. Depending on how severe the condition is, it can be extremely painful and debilitating. Simply trying to pick up a pencil can be unimaginably terrible, which is why it is of great importance to find effective treatments.

The most common form of the condition is osteoarthritis. With this form, long term inflammation occurs in the joints. This is caused by the degradation of cartilage inside joints or a decrease in the amount of lubrication fluid. If both causes occur at the same time and to an extensive degree, osteoarthritis can hinder one's life greatly.

Osteoarthritis can occur throughout the body, most noticeably in the legs and hands. What makes matters worse is when a body part is not used due to arthritis, it can start to waste away in a process known as atrophy. Therefore, not using the part can be almost as bad as using it. About a quarter of doctor's visits are related to this form of arthritis, and by retirement age, eighty percent of people will have it (although significantly less will show symptoms).

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition, which means the disease is caused by the body's immune system attacking itself. This form of arthritis is especially harmful because it causes inflammation in places other than the joints, including lungs and part of the eye. The heart and kidneys are also adversely affected, which is why those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis have higher instances of heart attacks and kidney problems. The condition is usually diagnosed with X-rays or blood tests.

In a blood test, the analyzer seeks out antibodies that are present in individuals with RA. If an X-ray shows signs of RA, then a blood test is carried out to confirm the initial diagnosis. Like all types of arthritis, the incidence of RA increases with age, although it is not directly caused by aging.

Psoriatic arthritis is another autoimmune disease, and it frequently occurs in conjunction with psoriasis, a type of skin condition. Psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are very similar and are treated in the same ways. However, the specific adverse affects of psoriatic arthritis are different from RA, and include the damage or loss of finger and toenails.

Arthritis often accompanies other diseases, such as psoriasis as illustrated above. Additional diseases include Lyme disease and hepatitis. When acting as a secondary condition, arthritis further exacerbates the disease it accompanies.

There are many different treatments for arthritis, from therapy to targeted drugs. It is rare that just one treatment is prescribed; instead, many are used simultaneously as to have a more powerful effect. In the most serious of cases, joint replacement surgery may be required, although this is a last resort and can usually be avoided if arthritis is treated proactively.

Natural supplements have also shown promise in reducing inflammation of the joints, including oils from cold water fish. Even with extended treatment, arthritis can be a difficult condition to live with, and further research is needed to combat it more effectually.