Arthritis can attack joints in almost any part of the body. Arthritis is one of the most common diseases in the world. Millions of adults and half of all people of age 65 and older suffer from this disease. Older people most often come down with osteoarthritis (which starts when cartilage begins to become ragged and wears away), rheumatoid arthritis (which leads to inflammation in your joints causing pain, swelling, and stiffness that lasts for hours, in multiple joints at the same time), or gout (caused due to formation of crystals of uric acid in the connective tissue and/or joint spaces).
However, age at which arthritis occurs can hardly be generalized. Arthritis can even affect much lower age groups. Anyone from as young as six months of age can develop arthritis. Most people however will develop it between age 15 and 65 - "the productive years". Arthritis is the leading cause of physical disability among adults 18 years of age and older, with OA being the most common form of arthritis in this age group.
Previously, doctors used to think of osteoarthritis as a disease of old age. But they now believe that this form of arthritis, the most common of over 150 types, begins its attacks when one is still in his 30s, 20s or even younger. As osteoarthritis is initially painless, the victims usually don't suspect suspect anything is wrong until one is in his 40s or 50s and begin to feel twinges, signs that the disorder may be starting to affect your bones. By then the damage has been done, and even the best treatments can't do much more than ease the pain and try to maintain the status quo in what are already degenerating joints.The present generation stand a big chance of being affected by osteoarthritis in the thumb joints, as a consequence of playing too much video games).
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Thus, age is no longer an issue for knee arthritis. It can strike at middle age or even before without much warning. Knee replacement is an option for those suffering from acute knee arthritis. However, doctors advise young patients to wait till they are older to replace their knees.
Arthritisxl.com makes you aware about the different aspects of the disease of arthritis with special emphasis on the risk factors of arthritis.
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