Welcome to our health education library. The information shared below is provided to you as an educational and informational source only and is not intended to replace a medical examination or consultation, or medical advice given to you by a physician or medical professional.

What Is Arthritis?Artritis

What Is Arthritis?

Image of healthy knee joint

Image of knee joint with arthritis

Arthritis is a disease that affects the joints (the parts where bones meet and move). It can affect any joint in your body. There are many types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases, including osteoarthrtitis, rheumatoid arthrtitis, and fibromyalgia. If your symptoms are mild, medications may be enough to reduce pain and swelling. For more severe arthritis, surgery may be needed to improve the condition of the joint.

What Causes Arthritis?

Cartilage is a smooth substance that protects the ends of your bones. When you have arthritis, this cartilage breaks down and can no longer protect your bones. The bones rub against each other, causing pain and swelling. Over time, bone spurs (small pieces of rough or splintered bone) may develop, and the joint's range of motion becomes limited.

Symptoms

Image of man swimming

Some of the more common symptoms of arthritis include:

Joint pain and stiffness. Pain and stiffness get worse with long periods of rest or using a joint too long or too hard.
Joints that have lost normal shape and motion.
Tender, inflamed joints. They may look red and feel warm.
Feeling tired all the time.

Reducing Symptoms

Following a healthy lifestyle by eating healthy, reducing stress, and finding the right balance of rest and activity can help reduce symptoms of arthritis.

Date Last Reviewed:

Date Last Modified: 2009-02-10T00:00:00-07:00

Back to Library Index

TESTIMONIALS

I wish there was a way for everyone to experience that quality of medicine.
Keep up the good work! PH

You cannot find a better place where you can trust your life to the good hands of such qualified, dedicated, intelligent and, most importantly, caring physicians and healers. They are the personal doctors for many of the top physicians in town. What better reference can you get than that?