What Are the Types and Symptoms of Arthritis?

Arthritis is a disease which causes joint swelling and excessive arthritis pain in the body.  Joint Inflammation and redness are the other symptoms of arthritis.



Due to stiffness the movement of joints becomes increasingly difficult, joint pain increases and they turn quite sore. Arthritis can affect any of the joints in the body and it can also damage the cartilage. Some of the other organs of the body like eyes or chest may also get affected.



Arthritis as a term covers groups of more than hundreds of medical conditions. It may interfere with such daily tasks as walking, climbing, brushing teeth, preparing a meal, sleeping, writing or even getting out of bed in the morning.

There are various types of arthritis like septic arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis, polymalgia rheumatica and psoriatic arthritis. The two most common forms of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.



Some forms of arthritis affect the young, the middle-aged and even the infants while several women develop arthritis during their child-rearing years. Osteoarthritis affects fingers, hips and knees and it is prevalent in people aged more than 60 years of age. Apart from joints, rheumatoid arthritis affects bones and other organs like kidneys, heart and skin.



Hands and feet are more susceptible to rheumatoid arthritis and there might be symptoms of fever and tiredness. A person affected with rheumatoid arthritis has difficulty in holding a brush or a pen.

If pain, stiffness and inflamed joints persist for more than two weeks, the person should visit a physician.



This is necessary to determine the type and root cause of arthritis so as to plan start the treatment course. The symptoms of arthritis may include sleeplessness, fatigue, muscle aches or depression. The impairment of mobility is the biggest depressing factor.



The initial treatment is carried out to lessen pain and enable the patient to perform their everyday tasks with ease. Maintaining ideal weight through exercise and reducing stress are important to treat arthritis.