Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness. It involves the breakdown of cartilage in the joints. While there is no cure for arthritis, treatments focus on reducing pain and discomfort through medications, physical therapy, and sometimes surgery. Prevention efforts like maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active can help avoid arthritis or slow its progression. Living with arthritis does not mean one cannot live a full life.

1. B Y D I A N A D O L A N
Arthritiseffects, treatment & other information

2. Basics  Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more
joints, which results in soreness, swelling,
stiffness, discomfort, and restricted
movement.
 It involves the breakdown of cartilage.
 Cartilage normally protects the joint, allowing
for even movement.
 Cartilage also absorbs shock when pressure is
placed on the joint.
 Without the usual amount of cartilage, the
bones rub together, causing soreness, swelling
and stiffness.

3. Spread or Transmitted?
Arthritis is not
spread, nor is it
transmitted.
Many
researchers
believe that
arthritis is
genetic,
explaining why
it is possible for
small children
to develop the
disease.

4. Who is Affected?
 Men and women of all ages
 Most prominent in women
 1 out of every 7 people in America has arthritis of some kind
 Children, as young as infants, can also get autoimmune forms of
arthritis—Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, also known as JRA
 Many people are under the mistaken impression that arthritis is a
disease only reserved for older, perhaps overweight people, but
children are just as susceptible

5. Etiology
 Because arthritis is not
caused by an exposure to
a virus or bacteria, there
is no “incubation
period.”
 However, it is possible
for someone to have
arthritis and not even
know it, simply
dismissing it as everyday
joint pain.

6. Signs Symptoms
 Joint swelling, and
redness of the skin
around a joint
 Joint pain, other minor
aches and pains,
reduced ability to move
the joint, stiffness,
particularly in the
morning, fatigue, and
warmth around a joint
Signs v. Symptoms

7. Diagnosis
No single test
or physical
finding
confirms the
diagnosis—
many are
needed to be
positive.
A physical exam
Imaging and
laboratory tests
Blood tests and x-rays

8. Pathophysiology
 Arthritis is habitually chronic,
lasting long periods of time and
often throughout one's life.
 Occasionally, however, arthritis
goes into what is called remission
and does not appear again.
 But the opposite is also true; it is
possible to go into remission and
then later in life develop arthritis
again.
 As mentioned earlier, arthritis
causes pain and swelling in the
joint areas, including knees, wrists,
ankles, elbows, fingers and toes.
 A person suffering from arthritis is
oftentimes in a great deal of pain,
either in specific regions or all over
the body usually early in the
morning, making it difficult to get
out of bed.

9. Prevention
While there is no known
prevention for arthritis,
there are, naturally,
preventative steps to
avoiding arthritis.
Appropriate
management of arthritis,
including weight control,
physical activity,
adequate rest, and
physical therapy, can
help people with
arthritis stay productive
and function normally
and can help prevent
getting arthritis in the
first place.

10. TREATMENT
Treatment of arthritis depends
on the particular cause, which
joints are affected, and how
the condition affects daily
activities.
Treatment focuses on reducing
pain and discomfort and
preventing further disability.
The cause is not necessarily
curable, as with osteoarthritis
and rheumatoid arthritis.
Medications can be prescribed
to reduce swelling in the joints
in order to relieve pain and
prevent or slow down further
joint damage.
Occupational and physical
therapy can teach patient’s
how to protect their joints.
If the joints are severely
damaged by arthritis, surgery
may be a necessary step.

11. Live Your Life
 While arthritis can be disabling and painful, it is in
no way a terminal illness, and with the proper care
and attention, one can live a full and happy life with
arthritis.

12. “ A R T H R I T I S F O U N D A T I O N | S Y M P T O M S T R E A T M E N T S | P R E V E N T I O N T I P S | P A I N
R E L I E F A D V I C E . ” A R T H R I T I S
F O U N D A T I O N | S Y M P T O M S T R E A T M E N T S | P R E V E N T I O N T I P S | P A I N R E L I E F
A D V I C E . N . P . , N . D . W E B . 6 O C T . 2 0 1 0 . < H T T P : / / W W W . A R T H R I T I S . O R G / > .
“ A R T H R I T I S - M A Y O C L I N I C . C O M . ” M A Y O C L I N I C M E D I C A L I N F O R M A T I O N A N D
T O O L S F O R H E A L T H Y L I V I N G –
M A Y O C L I N I C . C O M . N . P . , N . D . W E B . 1 8 O C T . 2 0 1 0 .
< H T T P : / / W W W . M A Y O C L I N I C . C O M / H E A L T H / A R T H R I T I S / D S 0 1 1 2 2 / T A B = I N D E P T H > .
“ A R T H R I T I S : M E D L I N E P L U S . ” N A T I O N A L L I B R A R Y O F M E D I C I N E - N A T I O N A L
I N S T I T U T E S O F H E A L T H . N I H :
N A T I O N A L I N S T I T U T E O F A R T H R I T I S A N D M U S C U L O S K E L E T A L A N D S K I N
D I S E A S E S , N . D . W E B . 6 O C T . 2 0 1 0 .
< H T T P : / / W W W . N L M . N I H . G O V / M E D L I N E P L U S / A R T H R I T I S . H T M L > .
“ W E B M D A R T H R I T I S A N D J O I N T P A I N C E N T E R : S Y M P T O M S , C A U S E S , T E S T S , A N D
T R E A T M E N T S . ” W E B M D
A R T H R I T I S A N D J O I N T P A I N C E N T E R : S Y M P T O M S , C A U S E S , T E S T S , A N D
T R E A T M E N T S . N . P . , N . D . W E B . 1 8 O C T . 2 0 1 0 .
< H T T P : / / A R T H R I T I S . W E B M D . C O M / > .
Works Cited