Arthritis: Some Basic Facts
Arthritis is a broad term applied to any kind of joint disease. There are more than 100 disorders that can cause arthritis- some of the arthritic illnesses affect not only the joints but also the skin and other internal organs.It is also essential to distinguish arthritic illnesses from various other disorders like fibromyalgia that can present with Musculoskeletal and joint symptoms.
A joint consists of a joint capsule which surrounds a layer of lining cells (termed synovial membrane), lubricating fluid (synovial fluid), a slippery smooth substance (cartilage) which covers most of the surface of the articulating bones to ensure smooth painless movement across a joint. Arthritis results in various manifestations and more importantly serious irreversible damage to the joint structures. Of the different manifestations of arthritis the most important are pain, stiffness, inflammation, limitation of movement and deformity of joints.
A common question often raised is about the efficacy of alternative drugs for the management of arthritides. The question raises a few complex issues and hence certain important considerations need to be addressed. Most of the alternative drugs have not been adequately tested in properly designed studies.
Another common misconception about arthritic illnesses is that it is caused by poor diet or can be aggravated by eating curd, rice or the so-called cold things. However there is no scientific basis to this belief. Apart from gout & celiac disease there is no proven connection between a particular food source and arthritis.However the importance of a balanced diet cannot be overemphasized irrespective of whether you are suffering from arthritis or not. Weight control is especially important for people with arthritis, because being overweight puts added stress on your arthritic joints.
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