Arthritis

Osteoarthritis can involve a number of joints, but it is not a disease that spreads to involve other tissues or joints throughout the body.
             Osteoarthritis or simply (OA) has been called a "degenerative" condition because it is caused, in part, by wear-and-tear of a joint over time. Its impact is significant. Osteoarthritis can occur to both men and women and it usually develops after the age of 45. It is estimated that more than 16 million Americans, including over 50% of people over the age of 65, have some degree of osteoarthritis. Older people often do not realize that they have OA if they do not feel any pain and if they do not have other symptoms related to the disease. However, x-rays often reveal some OA of the spine or fingers in elderly individuals. .
             Osteoarthritis can develop in a joint when cartilage, the smooth shiny tissue that lines and cushions the ends of the bones inside a joint, begins to break down. This can occur due to many different factors such as; prolonged "wear-and-tear" and this happens as we age over time, any prior injuries or damages that have occurred to the joint from trauma or infection. But unfortunately, damaged cartilage cannot heal and become normal again, even though there are extensive researches that are trying to develop methods in which to restore damaged cartilage.
             Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease, meaning that it's a condition that is continuous or persistent over an extended period of time. And it primarily affects the joints and surrounding tissues, but it can also affect other organ systems. .
             The cause of rheumatoid arthritis or (RA) is still unknown. The condition, however involves an attack on the body's own immune cells. The disease can occur to anyone, at any age, but the commonness of the disease is between the ages of 25 and 55. However the disease is more common in older people. Women are affected 2.5 times more often than men.