Disease of Arthritis Differences Between

¶ … Disease of arthritis [...] differences between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and their commonalities. Although there are many types of arthritis, these two are the most common. Both of these forms of arthritis can be debilitating and painful. They can also lead to other complications, such as surgery and continued medication for the pain. According to the Pfizer drug corporation, osteoarthritis is the most common form of the disease, affecting at least 21 million Americans, while rheumatoid arthritis affects about 2.1 million Americans, mostly women (Editors).

However, those numbers will certainly increase as American age and put on more pounds. Two authors note, "By 2025, the total is expected to top 60 million, as an obese population pounds more heavily on its joints and an active generation of baby boomers grinds them down" (Fischman and Hobson). Arthritis is serious because it cannot be cured, only treated, and because it affects so many Americans and their daily lives. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in America today.

It is a degenerative disease that affects the joints and the cartilage between the joints eventually disappears. This is what causes pain in the joints; they literally wear against each other as the cartilage disappears. The text notes, "It results from a combination of aging, obesity, irritation of the joints, muscle weakness, and wear and abrasion" (Tortora and Derrickson 285). It mostly occurs in joints that bear weight, and as the cartilage degenerates, the bones create spurs of new osteous in an attempt to block the abrasion.

The spurs eventually limit movement by taking up extra room in the area between the joints. The major difference between this disease and rheumatoid arthritis is that osteoarthritis affects the bigger joints of the body, such as the knees and hips, and is created by wear and tear, while rheumatoid arthritis attacks smaller joints like fingers, and it does not attack the cartilage, but attacks the actual joint tissue (Tortora and Derrickson 285). Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of joint surgery, especially to the knees and hips, as well.

It can also commonly occur in the fingers and in the spine (Editors). The disease is often called the "wear and tear" form of arthritis. Often, when osteoarthritis is found in other joints, such as the wrist, shoulder, or ankle, there has been some type of injury to that area, although it can affect these smaller joints on its own. The Arthritis.com Web Site notes, "Work-related repetitive injury and physical trauma may contribute to the development of OA.

For example, if you have a strenuous job that requires repetitive bending, kneeling, or squatting, you may be at high risk for OA of the knee" (Editors). It can also occur in joints that are misaligned (such as a patient with bowlegs), and it can be hereditary. Before age 45, the disease is more common in men, while after age 45, it is more common in women (Editors).

The symptoms of the disease include stiffness after remaining in one position for a long time (such as sitting or sleeping), a sound of bone rubbing on bone or crunching when the bone is used, swelling or pain in the joint, and tenderness in the joint. Anti-inflammatory drugs, along with mild exercise and even re-alignment of misaligned joints, can treat osteoarthritis. Topical treatments, such as creams and hot and cold packs can also be effective in many cases.

X-rays are the most common way to confirm a diagnosis of osteoarthritis, but a doctor may order joint aspiration in cases that are more difficult to diagnose (Editors). Often, the most effective treatment for this form of arthritis is surgery to replace the damaged joints. It is the most common reason most Americans undergo hip and knee surgery, and most patients report success and far less pain in those joints after surgery. Rheumatoid arthritis does not have as many sufferers as osteoarthritis, and it has different symptoms and treatments.

This form of the disease can actually affect other areas of the body, such as the blood supply and lungs, and it is actually causes by inflammation of the joint lining, which causes loss of movement, pain, and swelling. The text authors note it is an "autoimmune disease in which the immune system of the body attacks its own tissues" (Tortora and Derrickson 285). In fact, the joint can even become misshapen.

It can have longer-lasting affects than osteoarthritis, but it can also have flare-ups and remissions, which osteoarthritis does not have. Osteoarthritis is degenerative, while rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease. It affects two to three times more women than men. Symptoms are different from osteoarthritis, and include inflammation and swelling of the joints, pain, warmth, and pain or stiffness in the morning or after long periods of rest.

In addition, rheumatoid arthritis is usually symmetrical, meaning it will affect both wrists, both knees, etc., although this is not always the case. The disease can also lead to a low-grade fever, a general feeling of tiredness, and affect other parts of the body, such as the heart lining. It can also create "rheumatoid nodules" under the skin in several areas of the body. Eventually, the disease can last many years, and lead to joint damage and disability (Editors).

While the exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not known, most researches believe the disease is hereditary, but it can also be triggered by an infection. It is not transmittable; one person cannot catch it or pass it to another person through infection. Usually doctors diagnose the disease via a blood test and then x-rays (Editors). The good news is, treatment is available for the disease, and new treatments are being developed.

Authors Fischman and Hobson continue, "For rheumatoid arthritis, there's a lot of excitement about new medicines known as biologic response modifiers, which can hit the disease hard and fast and either slow it down or stop it altogether" (Fischman and Hobson). Thus, there may be some hope on the horizon for sufferers of this debilitating disease. There are many other forms of arthritis that are not as prevalent as these two. Overall, nearly 43 million Americans suffer from some sort of arthritis (Fischman and Hobson).

While the disease has a detrimental affect on the body, it can also lead to depression and other mental problems. One patient notes, "I got very depressed. I couldn't sleep. When pain is constant like that, it changes your personality. And it affected everyone around me,' says Nora Baldner, 41, of.