Everything You Need to Know about Arthritis

Arthritis is a widespread disease among older people that is still not talked about enough. That is why we are devoting this article entirely to the subject of arthritis.

How do you know if you have arthritis? What causes the disease? Does arthritis spread? What are different types of arthritis? How to treat arthritis? Find out this and more to ensure support for you and your loved ones. Today you are going to learn everything you need to know about arthritis.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis otherwise known as gout is usually characterised by recurrent conditions of acute arthritis. In more than half of the cases, the inflammation in the form of reddened swelling involves the metatarsophalangeal joint located at the base of the big toe. Other joints frequently affected are the ankles, knees, elbows, wrists and fingers.

What are the different types of arthritis?

There are two different types of arthritis. These are:

Primary arthritis — is a condition when the body, for unknown reasons, produces too much uric acid, causing pain and impaired joint movement.
Secondary arthritis — is a condition following, for example, leukaemia, radiation, alcohol and drug abuse, overeating and poor weight loss treatment.

Different types of arthritis — risk factors

Certain medical conditions increase the risk of gout. These include kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, hypothyroidism, certain cancers or genetic disorders.

People at risk of developing arthritis are:

adult men over 40 years of age
overweight people
alcohol abusers
people who eat foods high in purines, especially meat, offal and seafood
people with a family history of gout
taking certain medications, including diuretics or aspirin
post-transplant condition

Different types of arthritis causes

The cause of primary arthritis is too high a level of uric acid in the blood. The uric acid starts to crystallise in the blood and the crystals are deposited in the joints, forming growths. Over time, these become larger and sharper, so they injure the periarticular tissue and cause inflammation of the joints. The inflammation itself can also have other causes, such as mechanical trauma, which is why it is important to check uric acid levels. Unfortunately, the reason why the body suddenly starts producing too much uric acid, which can harm the body, is unknown.

Secondary arthritis, on the other hand, has other causes. It can be a consequence of radiation, leukaemia, kidney disease or even alcohol or drug abuse, overeating and a poorly adapted weight loss treatment – usually too restrictive and leading to sudden weight loss. Arthritis also occurs in type 2 diabetes, overweight, abdominal obesity and hypertension.

How do you know if you have arthritis?

Arthritis has symptoms similar to inflammation of the joints. Symptoms of arthritis may initially appear like other disease entities, so in diagnosis, the number of typical symptoms and uric acid levels are checked to be sure it is gout and not another joint disease. The more symptoms a patient has, the more likely it is arthritis. When it is too high, then we are dealing with arthritis.

Other symptoms of arthritis include:

severe and sudden joint pain,
fever,
weakness,
swelling and tight skin around the joints,
changes in the urinary system, e.g. nephritis,
chronic arthritis,
gout nodules,
weight loss,
mobility problems.

How to treat arthritis?

Treatment of arthritis is long-term because it is a chronic and incurable disease. The most important thing in arthritis therapy is to prevent the disease from getting worse and having symptoms such as a gout attack. A diet that eats foods that do not stimulate uric acid production and even reduce its level, or that are diuretic and dilute urine, allowing uric acid to be excreted more quickly from the body, is crucial. For arthritis pains, it is worth applying the Vetiver Flower externally. Ashwagandha root, which can be drunk as tea, can be used as a supportive treatment for arthritis.

Medications are also advisable in the treatment of arthritis. The most common medications are anti-inflammatories, painkillers and diuretics. For some people, physical therapy also works well, allowing the patient and the joints to move properly so that they do not stiffen and so that performing simple activities does not cause pain. The form of physiotherapy is selected individually for the patient’s condition.

Diet in treatment of arthritis

During the treatment of arthritis, it is vital to follow a proper diet. It should stop attacks of pain and tissue damage. The diet should consist mainly of fruit and vegetables, including apples, strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, sauerkraut and foods such as wholemeal bread, cereals, dairy products, pasta and eggs.

A diet for gout does not exclude the use of herbs and spices. You should use curcumin, chia seeds and herbs such as nettle, chamomile or horsetail.

People with arthritis should give up alcohol. Also, avoid baked and fried products, pork, and chocolate. It is worth remembering to take products rich in vitamin C and drink at least two litres of mineral water per day.