World Arthritis Day

October 12 is observed as World Arthritis Day. Moto of this calendar day is to make people aware of arthritis.

What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is inflammation of joints. There are many types of arthritis, with diverse symptoms, causes and cure. Two most known types are rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA).

Symptoms of Arthritis
The most common symptoms are joint pain, swelling and stiffness. Mobility is reduced and one also experiences pain while moving. At times redness is also observed around the joint.

Causes of Arthritis
A reduction in the amount of cartilage tissue results in arthritis. Cartilage is a flexible and dense connective tissue present in the joints. It works like a sponge which absorbs the shock created by movement.

Osteoarthritis is caused due to normal wear and tear, the most common problem. The cartilage tissue breaks down is aggravated due to infection or injury. One is more prone to this type of arthritis if they have a family history.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. It is caused when body tissues are attacked by the body’s immune system. This attack affects the synovium, a soft tissue present in the joint which produces a fluid which helps in lubricating the joints and nourishing the cartilage. This can later damage the cartilage as well as bone in the joint.

How to avoid Arthritis?
The best way to avoid arthritis is to take good sunlight, which gives us vitamin D and helps to absorb calcium in a better way. We should follow regular exercises to keep ourselves fit and maintain a healthy weight. Apart from this, we should also take a healthy diet. There are some food items like turmeric, cabbage, broccoli, fatty fish, citrus fruits and garlic which can help us in avoiding arthritis.