| When asking what arthritis is, one must | | | | rheumatoid arthritis, is actually a disorder |
| merely look to the roots of the word, which | | | | of the immune system, where one's body is |
| has Greek origins and literally translates | | | | literally attacking its own joints. This type |
| into "Inflamed Joints." As diseases go, | | | | of arthritis manifests itself in many, |
| arthritis has had a long and prosperous | | | | sometimes in every joint at once, and causes |
| history: Paleontologists have discovered | | | | soft tissues to swell. It is a chronic |
| signs of the bone disease in human skeletons | | | | disorder that, if left unmanaged, can cause |
| that date as far back as 4500 BCE. Arthritis | | | | deformation of the hands (as the joints in |
| has been discovered in the buried remains of | | | | the fingers begin to twist themselves due to |
| pre-colonial Native Americans as well as in | | | | swelling), deformation of the neck, |
| ancient bodies all along Europe. Signs of | | | | |
| arthritis have even been discovered in | | | | Unlike Osteoarthritis, which is attributable |
| Egyptian mummies. | | | | to old age, the cause of rheumatoid arthritis |
| | | | is entirely unknown, though many in the |
| Despite the thousands of years that arthritis | | | | medical field believe it to be infectious. |
| has plagued humanity, it wasn't until about | | | | While rheumatoid arthritis can be treated |
| 500 BCE that people discovered a way to | | | | with anti-inflammatories and analgesics, |
| relieve the primary symptom of arthritis: | | | | Xenobiotic agents are the only known |
| pain. Through one method or another, some | | | | treatment known to stunt the disease's |
| bright soul discovered that willow bark | | | | progressions. |
| relieved aches and joint stiffness, and this | | | | |
| became the primary reagent in elixirs and | | | | Gout is another type of arthritis, and is |
| potions for centuries. It wasn't until the | | | | caused primarily my poor diet, where one |
| early 1800's when the scientific community | | | | consumes too many high purine foods, and not |
| isolated the pain killer Salicin from the | | | | enough vitamin C and vitamin B complex. Gout |
| tree bark. Unfortunately, salicin by itself | | | | manifests itself through the swelling of |
| irritates the stomach, so it wasn't until | | | | joints on the hands and feet, and often |
| 1897, when a dye company called The Bayer | | | | causes a large painful lump to appear on |
| Company found a way to use Salicin without it | | | | one's big toe. |
| being noxious. The resulting product was | | | | |
| trademarked as Aspirin. | | | | Arthritis, although it exists in hundreds of |
| | | | forms, always has one common symptom: joint |
| Arthritis comes in hundreds of individual | | | | pain and stiffness. With common symptoms come |
| forms, as it is a generic word for a specific | | | | common cures. Canes, walkers, and braces are |
| type of ailment. One of the most common forms | | | | all simple solutions that take the pressure |
| of arthritis is called Osteoarthritis (Osteo | | | | off of an arthritic joint and help afflicted |
| means "Relating to bones.") This type of | | | | people move about in relative freedom. Bad |
| arthritis is also referred to as Arhrosis, | | | | arthritic conditions are sometimes treated |
| and in more colloquial terms, "wear-and-tear | | | | with corrective surgery. |
| arthritis." A study in 2001 states that over | | | | |
| 80% of the U.S. population will show signs of | | | | Not all arthritis is chronic and incurable, |
| Osteoarthritis by age 65. Osteoarthritis is | | | | as its reputation lets on, and it can, nine |
| the natural result of aging, though it can | | | | times out of ten, have its progression slowed |
| also occur through damage to the joints. | | | | through proper diet, exercise, and discretion |
| | | | in one's daily activities. |
| Another common form of Arthritis, called | | | | |