Learning About Inflammatory Arthritis

By Kim Archer

Inflammatory arthritis includes a variety of illnesses that attack the joints because of immune system problems. Many forms of inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, are autoimmune disorders, in which the body views its own tissues as being foreign, and in turn reacts with inflammation. Other varieties, such as reactive arthritis, are the body's response to a bacterial infection. Another type of inflammatory arthritis is psoriatic arthritis. This is related to the skin condition, psoriasis.

Arthritis technically refers to any painful inflammation of the joints, and arthritis conditions can range from being so mild that they are hardly noticeable to so severe that they are practically debilitating. Arthritis can be overwhelming and the associated pain is often severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.

There are quite a few different possibilities when it comes to the causes of inflammatory arthritis. Unhealthy habits like excessive drinking or smoking are thought to be linked to the development of this disease so these habits should be discontinued to minimize the risk. Certain blood types are also more prone to developing this condition than others, and so you will want to be aware that genetics can often play a role here.

The symptoms of inflammatory arthritis are often so subtle and general that it is easy to mistake them for signs of something else, even just a regular cold or flu. When the disease is active, common symptoms include fatigue, lack of appetite, low-grade fever, muscle and joint aches, and stiffness.

Inflammation is a commonly experienced symptom of the disease. You may feel as though there is significant swelling in joints which occurs without warning regardless of how much the affected joint has been used, and joints may become stiff and difficult to move.

Chronic inflammation can cause serious damage to the body's tissues and cartilage, so if you are ever experiencing any of these symptoms you want to report them to your doctor as soon as possible. The good news is that inflammatory arthritis is usually pretty easy to diagnose. Then you can start on the path to treatment, and fortunately in today's advanced day and age there are plenty of treatment options available.

There are many over the counter medications and treatments available that will help to ease the pain associated with arthritis, but there is no known cure for arthritic conditions. Even though medical treatments cannot make the illness go away, they can help you live a healthy, active life. - 30287

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