World Arthritis Day – October 12, 2018

Today, October 12^th, 2018, is World Arthritis Day. This year’s World Arthritis Day is associated with a special campaign called “Don’t Delay, Connect Today.” The campaign aims to raise awareness of the symptoms of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) and promotes the importance of early diagnosis and access to care. The campaign is initiated by EULAR, a European non-governmental organization that represents people with arthritis and rheumatism.

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a general term often used to describe conditions and diseases that affect the joints or tissues surrounding the joint. There are over 100 different types of arthritis, including the two most common forms:

1. Osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative arthritis) is the deterioration of cartilage over time. Cartilage is a firm, flexible and slippery tissue that allows joints to move almost without friction. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage to become rough and if the cartilage becomes completely worn out, bones will rub together. Osteoarthritis develops with age; it is more common among individuals ages 65 and older.The symptoms of this disease develop slowly and may worsen over time. Symptoms include pain, tenderness, swelling, skin redness and stiffness of the joints. Other symptoms include a decreased range of motion in joints and a grating sensation when the affected joints are being used. Treatment options include medication, diet, surgery, physical therapy, and other medical procedures.
2. Rheumatoid Arthritis is the most common form of autoimmune arthritis. It is more common in females than males. This form of arthritis occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues and joints causing inflammation. The inflammation will cause people to feel pain, stiffness and swelling in their joints, especially in the morning.Rheumatoid arthritis is known to start in the small joints of hands and feet, however, it can spread to larger joints and other parts of the body such as the eyes and lungs. This disease can damage bones and cartilage, restrict movement and cause chronic pain. Some individuals experience constant pain whereas, other individuals experience flare-ups occasionally. Treatment helps individuals to manage symptoms and minimize the effects of the disease.

Learn more about the latest research on arthritis below:

1. How does rheumatoid arthritis affect walking ability?

There are medicines to help with joint pain and damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis but, there is no current cure. Doctors recommend taking breaks to stretch and move around, to prevent joints from getting stiff. However, an individual’s ability to walk may be affected by rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers in Japan investigated how rheumatoid arthritis affects walking. Read more about this study and the association between rheumatoid arthritis and walking here.

2. Do certain foods increase your risk of rheumatoid arthritis?

Researchers determined whether certain diets impacted the development of rheumatoid arthritis in a study published in Clinical Rheumatology. The study consisted of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and participants without rheumatoid arthritis. Read more about this study and find out what foods are associated with rheumatoid arthritis here.

3. Can new drug delivery systems treat osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis can be treated effectively by intraaterial administration, which involved a drug or other treatment being directly injected into the joint. Taking pills orally often does not provide the necessary amount of drug needed and the pills often do not treat the exact place affected. An article published in the journal Drug Delivery Today outlines osteoarthritis treatment and drug delivery systems. Read more about the types of osteoarthritis drugs and drug delivery systems for intraarterial injections here.

4. Can Magnesium Prevent Frailty in Knee Osteoarthritis?

Frailty is a common condition associated with ageing that increases the risk of poor health outcomes, such as falling. A study published in Nutrients, researched whether frailty is associated with magnesium deficiency. Find out if magnesium intake prevents frailty here.

Want to know more? Read about the latest research in arthritis here.

Written by Alana Punit

References:

1. “EULAR – Campaign: Don’t Delay, Connect Today”. Eular.Org, 2018, https://www.eular.org/eular_campaign.cfm. Accessed 12 Oct 2018.
2. “Degenerative Arthritis – Medical News Bulletin”. Medical News Bulletin, 2018, https://www.medicalnewsbulletin.com/degenerative-arthritis/. Accessed 10 Oct 2018.
3. Laskova, Valeriya, and Wesley Tin. “Rheumatoid Arthritis – Medical News Bulletin”. Medical News Bulletin, 2018, https://www.medicalnewsbulletin.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/. Accessed 10 Oct 2018.
4. Kellen, Debra. “How Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Affect Walking Ability?”. Medical News Bulletin, 2018, https://www.medicalnewsbulletin.com/how-does-rheumatoid-arthritis-affect-walking-ability/. Accessed 10 Oct 2018.
5. Cruz, Michael. “Do Certain Foods Increase Your Risk Of Rheumatoid Arthritis?”. Medical News Bulletin, 2018, https://www.medicalnewsbulletin.com/do-certain-foods-increase-your-risk-of-rheumatoid-arthritis/. Accessed 10 Oct 2018.
6. Vissa, Adriano. “Can New Drug Delivery Systems Treat Osteoarthritis?”. Medical News Bulletin, 2018, https://www.medicalnewsbulletin.com/can-new-drug-delivery-systems-treat-osteoarthritis/. Accessed 10 Oct 2018.
7. Vashi, Neeti. “Can Magnesium Prevent Frailty In Knee Osteoarthritis?”. Medical News Bulletin, 2018, https://www.medicalnewsbulletin.com/magnesium-knee-osteoarthritis/. Accessed 10 Oct 2018.