Arthritis Causes & Risks

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• QWho is affected by arthritis?

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  A Baptist Health South Florida answered

  Arthritis is not just a disease that affects older people. Two-thirds of individuals with arthritis are under the age of 65, including an estimated 300,000 children. Of the more than 50 million Americans with arthritis, more than 36 million are white, more than 4.6 million are African-American and 2.9 million are Hispanic, says the Arthritis Foundation.

  Moreover, arthritis is not just about common aches and pains.

  Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is a degenerative joint disease marked by the breakdown of joint cartilage. Its risk factors include obesity, being overweight or having a history of joint injury. Symptoms of osteoarthritis most often develop gradually and include:

  • joint aching and soreness, especially with movement
  • pain after overuse or after long periods of inactivity
  • stiffness after periods of rest
  • bony enlargements in the middle and end joints of the fingers (which may or may not be painful)
  • joint swelling

  Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease, an inflammation of the membranes lining the joints, which causes pain, stiffness, warmth, swelling and sometimes severe joint damage.

  Juvenile arthritis is a broad term used to describe many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions that can develop in children ages 16 and younger.

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• QWhat causes arthritis?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Most types of arthritis are caused by the breakdown of cartilage and synovium (a pocket of fluid between cartilage) within joints. Rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are both caused when the body's immune system attacks the tissues that line the joints, which can destroy the joint's cartilage and bone over time. Osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear of joints, or excessive stress or injury to joints. Post-traumatic arthritis is caused by sudden trauma to a joint, usually as a result of an accident or injury.

  Risk factors for arthritis can vary depending on the type, but in general, certain things may increase your risk. Genetics may play a role in the development of certain types of arthritis, so if your family members have arthritis, you're more likely to develop it. Women are more likely than men to develop many types of arthritis. Also, any kind of excessive stress or injury to the joints may increase the risk of developing arthritis, so people who are overweight or who play sports are often at a higher risk. Age also plays a role in the development of some types of arthritis, so being over the age of 40 may increase your risk.

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• QCan a joint injury cause arthritis?

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  A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) answered

  Joint injury can lead to osteoarthritis. People who experience sports or occupational injuries or have jobs with repetitive motions like repeated knee bending have more osteoarthritis. Avoid joint injury to reduce your risk of developing osteoarthritis.
  
  The presence of the CDC logo and CDC content on this page should not be construed to imply endorsement by the US Government of any commercial products or services, or to replace the advice of a medical professional. The mark “CDC” is licensed under authority of the PHS.
• QCan high heel shoes cause arthritis?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  

  High heels can cause knee and foot problems, but many people don't know it can also cause joint pain. Find out why as Dr. Oz explains in this video about arthritis and high  heels.

  
  

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• QHow does exercise affect arthritis risk?

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  A Int'l Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) answered

  Regular exercise decreases the likelihood of developing arthritis-related disabilities. For those with arthritis, not exercising can make consequences of the disease worse. A major survey of 3,554 men and women aged 53 to 63 discovered that regular exercise decreases the likelihood of developing arthritis-related disabilities by 10% among arthritis suffers. Further, inactive arthritis sufferers showed a 37% increase in disabilities as compared with 29% and 27% for those who exercised. And respondents who engaged in 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity five days per week reported increased relief of functional decline related to arthritis.
• QHow does excess saturated fat make arthritis symptoms worse?

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  A Dole Nutrition Institute answered

  Most saturated fats trigger an inflammatory reaction in the body, which exacerbates arthritis symptoms. Many doctors recommend that arthritis patients limit their consumption of whole-dairy products (such as whole milk, cheese and ice cream) and animal products (such as red meat and poultry), and replace them with healthier choices, like cold-water fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Doctors who recommend fish to alleviate joint pain and stiffness say the benefits are maximized when other animal fats are minimized. In addition, in a 2004 study published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, British researchers identified a high level of red meat consumption as an independent risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis after finding that the subjects who ate the most red meat were twice as likely to develop the disease as those who limited their intake to less than an ounce per day.
• QWho is at risk for arthritis?

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  A Int'l Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) answered

  At least 46 million Americans (about one in five) have a diagnosed form of arthritis, and nearly 19 million people find that arthritis limits their daily activities. Nearly two-thirds of all individuals with arthritis are under the age of 65. More than half of all adults with diabetes and heart disease have arthritis.
  
  Being overweight or obese increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis. One study showed that women who lose as little as 11 pounds can decrease their risk of knee osteoarthritis by more than 50%.

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• QCan cracking my knuckles cause arthritis?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  Cracking your knuckles makes you sound like a bowl of Rice Krispies and never goes over well in church. While it's painful for everyone around you to hear, you're not doing any harm to your joints, bones, or muscles when you crack-unless it hurts when you crack them. It's just caused by the high-pressure suction of gas being expelled when your joints move apart. If it hurts when your knuckles or knees crack, you need to see your doctor to assess what kind of joint damage you may have.

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• QWhat causes hindfoot arthritis?

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  A Dr. Thomas P. San Giovanni, MD , Orthopedic Surgery, answered on behalf of Baptist Health South Florida

  The ankle joint is subjected to more weight-bearing force per square centimeter than any other joint in the body. Hindfoot arthritis can result from trauma such as fractures, inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or related conditions such as tibialis posterior tendinosis. While trauma and/or abnormal ankle mechanics are the most common causes of degenerative changes, obesity and excessive or repetitive motion may also contribute