Arthritis Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Arthritis Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Definition

Arthritis or arthritis, is pain in the joint area due to inflammation that occurs in the joint space or in the tissue surrounding the joint. In common people, arthritis is often called rheumatism.

Actually, arthritis is not a specific disease. There are at least more than 100 diseases that can cause arthritis. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is a narrowing of the joint space that is generally caused by aging.

Symptoms

Symptoms of arthritis vary, depending on the disease that causes arthritis. But the main symptom is joint pain. It can also be accompanied by redness and swelling in the affected joint area.

Arthritis caused by infection, injury, and aging commonly affects large joints, such as the knee or hip joints. Meanwhile, arthritis due to autoimmune diseases usually affects small joints such as the joints of the fingers or toes.

Reason

There are various causes of arthritis, including:

Aging
Injuries in the joint area
Metabolic disorders, such as high uric acid or high calcium
Infection in the joints
Autoimmune, as occurs in rheumatoid arthritis

Diagnosis

To ensure there is joint inflammation, an examination of the affected joint will be carried out. After that, further examination is generally required, such as:

Joint X-rays: this examination is needed to see the condition of the bones and joint spaces.
MRI of the joint: if arthritis is suspected of affecting the tissues around the joint, an MRI is needed to see the soft tissue.
Collecting joint fluid: in some cases, such as arthritis caused by an infection, a sample of the joint fluid needs to be analyzed and examined under a microscope to determine the cause.

Treatment

Arthritis treatment aims to reduce pain and prevent further damage to the joint area. Treatment can vary depending on the cause of arthritis. But in general, arthritis treatment includes:

Administration of drugs

The drug given depends on the disease that causes arthritis. Generally, the drugs given are anti-pain and anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or mefenamic acid. If the inflammation is severe or caused by an autoimmune problem, the doctor needs to give steroid drugs to treat the inflammation.

Organize food

Consume healthy food. Some foods that are good for joint health include fish, nuts, fruit, vegetables, olive oil, and whole grains.

Overcoming excess weight

Being overweight will cause excessive joint burden and exacerbate the inflammation that occurs. Therefore, to overcome arthritis, weight management so that it is not excessive is very important, namely by adjusting your diet and doing regular exercise.