Arthritis Causes & Risks

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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 Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine 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.

• QWho is affected by arthritis?

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  A Dr. Ashley R. Bateman, MD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of UCLA Health

  Just about anyone is at risk for arthritis, as aging increases the risk. Other factors also increase the risk of developing arthritis, including having a genetic predisposition to the disease.

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• 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.

  
  

  

  Find out more about this DVD:

  Can High Heel Shoes Cause Arthritis?
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• 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.
• 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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• QCan autoimmune diseases cause arthritis?

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  A Dr. Grant Cooper, MD , Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, answered

  Some types of arthritis are autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, shoulder tendonitis or bursitis, gouty arthritis, and polymyalgia rheumatica. In these diseases, inflammation is caused by an inappropriate response by the immune system in which the white blood cells attack joint tissue.
• QWhy are more women affected by arthritis than men?

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  A Dr. Audrey K. Chun, MD , Geriatric Medicine, answered on behalf of The Mount Sinai Health System

  Arthritis affects more women than men, period: women account for nearly 60% of suffers, with more than 26 million American women suffering from the condition. It's also the leading chronic condition among women.
  
  It's likely that physical and hormonal differences factor into this gender discrepancy. For instance, women have less knee cartilage than men, making their knees more prone to damage and the development of arthritis. The ligaments and muscles in women's joints also are typically smaller and not as strong as they are in men, which increases the risk of injuries that can lead to osteoarthritis.
  
  Hormones also may be involved, specifically where rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is concerned. RA is an immune condition, unlike osteoarthritis, which develops due to wear and tear on the joint. Sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone play a critical role in the inflammatory response and in the overall regulation of the immune system. Estrogen levels have been found to be higher in arthritic cartilage than in normal cartilage, suggesting that the hormone may be significant to the development of RA in women.