A bit of American history


Is It Arthritis Making My Bones Ache And Joints Creak?

When asking what arthritis is, one mustrheumatoid arthritis, is actually a disorder
merely look to the roots of the word, whichof the immune system, where one's body is
has Greek origins and literally translatesliterally attacking its own joints. This type
into "Inflamed Joints." As diseases go,of arthritis manifests itself in many,
arthritis has had a long and prosperoussometimes in every joint at once, and causes
history: Paleontologists have discoveredsoft tissues to swell. It is a chronic
signs of the bone disease in human skeletonsdisorder that, if left unmanaged, can cause
that date as far back as 4500 BCE. Arthritisdeformation of the hands (as the joints in
has been discovered in the buried remains ofthe fingers begin to twist themselves due to
pre-colonial Native Americans as well as inswelling),  deformation  of  the  neck,
ancient bodies all along Europe. Signs of
arthritis have even been discovered inUnlike 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 arthritismedical field believe it to be infectious.
has plagued humanity, it wasn't until aboutWhile rheumatoid arthritis can be treated
500 BCE that people discovered a way towith anti-inflammatories and analgesics,
relieve the primary symptom of arthritis:Xenobiotic agents are the only known
pain. Through one method or another, sometreatment known to stunt the disease's
bright soul discovered that willow barkprogressions.
relieved aches and joint stiffness, and this
became the primary reagent in elixirs andGout is another type of arthritis, and is
potions for centuries. It wasn't until thecaused primarily my poor diet, where one
early 1800's when the scientific communityconsumes too many high purine foods, and not
isolated the pain killer Salicin from theenough vitamin C and vitamin B complex. Gout
tree bark. Unfortunately, salicin by itselfmanifests itself through the swelling of
irritates the stomach, so it wasn't untiljoints on the hands and feet, and often
1897, when a dye company called The Bayercauses a large painful lump to appear on
Company found a way to use Salicin without itone'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 individualpain and stiffness. With common symptoms come
forms, as it is a generic word for a specificcommon cures. Canes, walkers, and braces are
type of ailment. One of the most common formsall simple solutions that take the pressure
of arthritis is called Osteoarthritis (Osteooff of an arthritic joint and help afflicted
means "Relating to bones.") This type ofpeople 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-tearwith  corrective  surgery.
arthritis." A study in 2001 states that over
80% of the U.S. population will show signs ofNot all arthritis is chronic and incurable,
Osteoarthritis by age 65. Osteoarthritis isas its reputation lets on, and it can, nine
the natural result of aging, though it cantimes 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



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