Inflammtion and Arthritis

 WHAT IS INFLAMMATION? NOT ALWAYS A BAD THING

Inflammations is body protective mechanism, by which body immune system is activated against any attacking bacteria, virus or foreign substance. After activation of immune system white cells of body helps to eradicate the foreign invaders so it is defense mechanism in most of cases…So if it is defense mechanism then what is problem?

 SOMETIMES ITS NOT PROTECTIVE MECHANISM

Unfortunately sometimes it’s not a protective mechanism when the body immune system is activated even when there are no invaders to fight off. This condition directs activated immune system to fight body own cells and tissues and this condition causes development of set of diseases that are known as autoimmune disease. These autoimmune diseases causes damage to the body causing inflammation in affected areas

WHY INFLAMMTION CAUSES PAIN AND SWELLING?

You people may have noticed that whenever you have pain and swelling, your Doctor always refer it as inflammation. Now I will try to let you explain that how inflammation is always associated with pain and swelling.

When the immune system is activated and white blood cells release chemicals that enter in blood and tissues and blood flow to affected area is increased. This increased blood flow is responsible for warmth and redness. These chemicals leak into tissues too and causes swelling. This whole process affect nerves and causes intermediate to worst pain.

 TYPES OF INFLAMMATION

In simplest way, there are two types of inflammation

Ø  One is short lived type that is known as acute inflammation. Acute inflammation goes in days after treatment

Ø  Second type is long term type that is known as chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation can last up to months and even extend up to years

    INFLAMMATION AND ARTHRITIS

Most of you folk are already aware or may suffer from arthritis. Arthritis is due to inflammation of joints and it have following different types

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Gouty arthritis
• Psoriatic arthriti
• Osteoarthritis
• Fibromyalgia(pain in joints)
• Muscular pain (lower back, neck)  

SYMPTOMS OF INFLAMMTION

Along with typical pain, redness and swelling other associated symptoms are

o   Loss of energy and appetite

o   Head ache

o   Muscle stiffness

o   Fever and Chills

o   Depression, anxiety and mood disorders

o   Gastrointestinal complications

      ARTHRITIS AND HOW IT IS AFFECTING UNITED STATES?

As arthritis is already very common let’s have a look at the percentage of arthritis according to data of CDC (center of disease control and prevention)

·         54.4 millions Of adult in United States have been diagnose with arthritis by doctor (22.7%)

·         Women are more affected then men

·         Prevalence is 23.5 % in women and 18.1 % in men

·         Chances of getting arthritis increases with age progression.

ARTHRITIS BURDEN IN FUTURE

Hold yourselves tight folks, there is increase in doctor diagnosed arthritis in coming decades

·         By the year 2040, 78.4 million population will have arthritis as compared to 54.4 million of 2013 to 2015

·         Two-thirds of arthritis patients will be women