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Arthritis

Arthritis comes from the Greek words arthon, meaning joint, and itis, meaning inflammation. Literally, then, arthritis means an inflammation of the joints. This definition seems simple and straightforward enough, and most cases of arthritis do involve inflamed joints. However, many types of arthritis involve no inflammation at all- breakdown of cartilage can occur as well. In common usage, arthritis has come to mean any aches and pains in the bones, joints, and muscles.
Many people have the notion that arthritis is disease only for old people. This simply isn’t true. There is no one typical likeness of an arthritis patient. Anyone can acquire it. It is not limited in a certain age group or gender, although some types of arthritis seem to affect men more than women and vice versa. Women, for example, seem more prone to Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis; men are more likely to get gout and ankylosing sponddylitis. In addition, certain forms appear to have a hereditary link, and ...

Posted by: Tricia F. Doyle

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