Osteoarthritis & rheumatoid arthritis

Discovering the difference

Arthritis is a broad term used for a number of disorders, diseases and issues related mainly to joints of the human body. However, the two most common forms of arthritis include osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Most people dont even know that these two diseases are very different from each other in a variety of ways such as:

Osteoarthritis 1 It is also known as degenerative arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis It is also known as inflammatory arthritis or polyarthritis

2 3

It is a more common disease than It is a less common disease than osteoarthritis rheumatoid arthritis Osteoarthritis is a deterioration Rheumatoid arthritis is the inflammation of a of cartilage and overgrowth of bone often joints connective tissues, such as the synovial due to wear and tear membranes, which leads to the destruction of the articular cartilage It is a non-inflammatory disease of the It is a complex inflammatory disease that joints which is characterized by mainly affects joints and various other parts of degeneration of the cartilage the body of the joints and a hardening (sclerosis) of the underlying bone Its cause is known and it is often caused Its cause is known. It is believed to be an by the aging phenomenon that affects autoimmune disease in which your bodys joints. Other possible causes include immunity works against your own cells and obesity, joint injury, overuse of joints and tissues instead of germs heredity

6 7

It usually begins later in life, usually after It usually begins between age 30 and age 60, age 50 but can begin anytime It results from the breakdown of It results from swelling in the joints the tissue inside the joints Cartilages are involved Synovial membranes (thin membranes between joints) are inflamed It is a degenerative disease primarily of It commonly involves the wrists, fingers and weight-bearing joints (commonly the other synovial joints (for example, knees and spine, hip, knee and also the terminal elbows) interphalangeal joints of the hands, but any joint may be involved) It tends to affect hands and feet first, but It mostly affects hips, knees, feet, and spine; can affect any joints rarely affects hands Osteoarthritis affects only joints, not Rheumatoid arthritis affects joints, tissues and internal organs a lot of internal systems of the body Two most common symptoms are pain Common symptoms include pain, stiffness, and swelling over affected joints heat, redness, tenderness over affected joints Joints are tender but not warm Joints are tender are warm Pain often affects only one joint Pain usually occurs in joints on both sides of the body (e.g., both wrists or both ankles) Blood tests are often normal Blood tests often show indications of inflammation, anemia (blood deficiency)

8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15

Did you know that while both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis differ from each other in a number of ways, there are some natural or herbal supplements that are equally effective for both conditions?