What Causes Arthritis? Arthritis, in its many forms, has varied and complex causes. Aging is the main factor in some forms of the disease; in others a breakdown in the body’s chemistry is responsible; and in some arthritic conditions a break down of the immune system is thought to be the cause.
currently focusing on how the immune system works and how it malfunctions. The stages and mechanisms of the autoimmune reaction, wherein the body’s own tissues are attacked by antibodies, are becoming clearer and researchers are becoming more optimistic about the chance of developing a new treatment. Most diseases become worse with increasing age; except for those few which we “grow out of”. While age may not be the culprit in the majority or arthritic conditions, the aging process can weaken the body’s immune and defense mechanism, thereby rendering the body less able to fight the disease. In addition as we age, the metabolism slows down, facilitating weight gain. Excess weight can affect the development and progression of arthritis. Some risk factor can be diminished by lifestyle changes such attention to diet, stopping smoking, and regular exercise. Aging Increasing age is a common cause of some types of arthritis and a determining factor in other types. * In osteoarthritis, which is the most common type of arthritis, nearly three quarters of the people over seventy have some form of arthritis visible on an X-ray. This form of the disease is without a doubt linked to aging and the wear and tear on the joints associated with aging. * Age may be a factor in rheumatoid arthritis, but is not a cause. The normal onset of rheumatoid arthritis is between the ages of 20 and 50. * The development of gout is related to age, but not caused by age. A built in metabolic dysfunction may eventually lead to the formation of uric acid crystals, which are responsible for the characteristic pain of gout. * Age is a factor in the development of ankylosing spondylitis without being a cause of the disease. The usually onset of this condition is between the ages of 17 and 27. * Systemic lupus erythematosus, or lupus, usually affects women between the ages of 15 and 45, although the disease can, in significantly fewer numbers, affect younger and older women, as well as men. Too Much Weight People who are carrying too much body weight are placing an unnecessary burden on all their body’s systems. The joints of the musculoskeletal system are no exception: they have to work harder if you are overweight. What is normally a degenerative or wear-and-tear disease in people of average weight becomes a more serious risk to health in obese people. The delicate mechanisms of the joints, particularly the weight bearing joints, such as the ankles, knees, and hips are stretched to the limit. For example the vertebrae of the spin will become compressed. The cartilage surrounding the ends of the bone becomes less springy. The muscle and joints require more oxygen-but the overweight body with an impaired cardiovascular system cannot produce enough oxygen quickly enough to meet the demand. Because of the way joints work, the strain on crucial parts of the joint can be magnified four or five times, so even a small amount of weight loss can be extremely helpful in reducing the strain on weight bearing joints. Arthritis is significantly more common in overweight women whose mobility is limited by extra pounds. Being overweight is clearly counter productive to those suffering from osteoarthritis and it is recommended that suffers should do their best to return to a normal weight for their height. Obesity is also a factor in rheumatoid arthritis, since daily life is more challenging if you are overweight. How Much is Too Much? Traditional ways of deciding whether or not we are of a healthy weight, such as height and weight charts, are no longer considered accurate guidelines for identifying the ideal weight. These charts fail to take into account the proportion of fat to muscle in the body. Since muscle weighs more than fat, you may be heavier than someone of the same height, but actually more fit. Doctors today use the Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine whether you weight is in the normal range. The Heredity Factor Many types of arthritis can be seen to occur with greater frequency in some families. However, this is not to say that arthritis is “inherited”. The most one can say is that you may have inherited a predisposition to the disease if one of your parents, grandparents, uncles, or aunts has it. Genetics Is this disease genetic? More than one gene has been implicated in the development of arthritis, notably rheumatoid arthritis. However, just because you have that gene does not necessarily mean that you will go on to develop arthritis. Equally, some people who do not carry the gene may in fact develop the disease. There is a strong inherited tendency to develop some forms of osteoarthritis. Heredity is a major factor in ankylosing spondylitis. Gene Research Researchers have found a specific sequence of nucleic acid, one of the building blocks of DNA, which is a marker for rheumatoid arthritis. People who inherit this sequence from both their father and mother are more likely to have a severe form of the disease, which could involve internal organs as well as joints. This type of research may affect genetic counseling in the future, in order to help identify people at greater risk of developing more severe forms of arthritis or needing more intensive treatment. The cause of arthritis and the search for the gene responsible is still a matter of intense research. Genetic factors are known to play a role in predisposing people to rheumatoid arthritis, but scientists do not yet know about the genes that are involved. Gender Most forms of arthritis are more common in women than men, but there are exceptions to many rules. For instance ankylosing spondylitis is one of the forms that is more prevalent in men. Most other types, however, affect a much higher percentage of women than men. In the United States approximately two thirds of all people with the disease are women. * Osteoarthritis currently affects about 12 million women, which is about 75 percent of all cases of the disease. * Fibromyalgia affects about 4 million people and seven times more women than men. * Rheumatoid arthritis affects about 1.5 million women, which accounts for 71 percent. * Lupus affects 117,000 women or, which accounts for 89 percent of all cases.
of all cases.
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