What are the symptoms of arthritis?
Common symptoms of arthritis include:
- Joint pain
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- Redness
What are the types of Arthritis?
There are many types of arthritis that inflict the human body. Here are a few most common ones.
- Osteoarthritis (OA): Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis which is known to be chronic in nature. This condition is a result of the breakdown of cartilage in the joints over time so it more commonly impacts older adults.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that happens when the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. In severe cases, it can affect the body’s organs too.
- Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA): Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a common type of arthritis that happens in childhood. In this condition, children up to 16 years of age can suffer from joint inflammation & rigidity for at least six weeks.
- Gout: Gout happens when the uric acid increases in your body. With the increase of Uric acid, joints are blocked by needle-shaped crystals.
- Ankylosing Spondylitis: This is a chronic disorder that primarily affects the spine, It can cause severe inflammation of the joints between the spine and pelvis.
What are the risk factors associated with arthritis?
- Family History
- Age
- Sex - Women are more likely to meet the condition of rheumatoid arthritis. Gout & some other types of arthritis are commonly seen in men.
- Previous joint injury
- Obesity or Overweight
Which Laboratory tests can Help with a Diagnosis of Arthritis?
Blood Tests:
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR, or sed rate)
- C-reactive protein (CRP)
- Rheumatoid factor Test
- Anti-cyclic Citrullinated Peptide (anti-CCP) Antibodies Test
Imaging tests