ARTHRITIS
Arthritis is a big issue, it does not get the headlines like other diseases such as heart disease or diabetes, yet it is the nation's number one crippling disease and the most common chronic disease in people over 40. Arthritis affects mote than 40 million Americans and this figure is expected to rise to 60 million by 2020, according to the Center for Disease Control. Arthritis generally afflicts people between the ages of 20 and 50, but can affect all ages. The average age of onset is 47 and about three out of every five people with arthritis are under 65 years of age. Doctors believe there are over 100 different forms of arthritis, all sharing one main characteristic: all forms cause joint inflammation. Left untreated it can advance, resulting in joint damage that cannot be undone or reversed. So early detection and treatment are important. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis(OA) and rheumatoid arthritis(RA). While both have similar symptoms, both happen for different reasons. When joints are overused and misused, the results can be OA. What happens is that the cushioning cartlage that protects the joint breaks down, resulting in the bones rubbing together. This generally happens in the knees, but can be found in the hips, spine and hands. The socond type Rheumatoid Arthrits, refers to the body's immune system attacking joint tissue. This condition most often starts in a person's hands, wrists and feet, then it advances to shoulders, elbows and hips. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the lubricating mechanism and cushioning of joints. It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the joints and other parts of the body. Bone surfaces are destroyed and the bones fuse together creating stiffness, swelling, fatigue and crippling pain. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, results primarily from a progressive degeneration of cartilage glycosaminoglycans (GAG). The smooth surface of the cartilage becomes rough and this results in friction. The joint becomes deformed, painful and stiff, and the muscles holding the joint together become weak.  Osteoarthritis affects the weight-bearing joints like knees, hips and ankles, and tends to be more common in older people.