Information on Arthritis

What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a severe medical condition of joints in the human body and a prime cause of disability as well as deformity. Arthritis is an inflammatory disease that results in swelling, stiffness, pain and difficult movement of joints. There are as many as one hundred different arthritic conditions.

Causes for Arthritis
Arthritis can occur prior to the age of senility because of certain conditions. Malnutrition is a leading cause of any arthritic problem. Calcium and phosphorus are two chief elements in the composition of bones. Deficiency of these minerals in our foods or less intake of mineral-rich foods and insufficient supply of them to the body break down the bones to decay gradually that in turn causes arthritis.

Arthritis can result from disproportion of hard work and daily diet. More of hard work and less of food intake makes the body vulnerable to the attack of arthritis. Food fuels the body with energy to perform its functions smoothly. An immoderately restricted diet supplies the body with inadequate energy. In such case, the body uses up the content of energy that leaves bones fragile and feeble. Arthritis is a dire consequence of it.

The breakdown of cartilage makes the body succumb to arthritis. A layer of cartilage around the joints prevents them from friction and allows them to move smoothly. The decay of cartilage makes the bones at a joint rub against each other when you move or walk.

The bacterial or viral infection of bones leads to joint inflammation that in turn causes arthritis. Arthritis also results from autoimmune disease of the body. When the body is affected with this disease, the immune system breaks down leading to the pain and inflammation of joints.

Too much involvement in sports and athletic activities puts stress on joints. Stressful activities are too stressful for joints to bear. Hence, construction workers, baseball players and ballet dancers are at risk of developing arthritis at any age.

You can do away with arthritic problems through weight management, strengthening exercises of joints, a nutritionally rich diet, medication or natural herbal supplements.