Arthritis affects around 35 million people in U.S.A alone. It is a degenerative disease affecting more women than men. It is the disease of the skeletal system generally affecting people in the age group 60-65. Arthritis literally means inflammation of joint.

Arthritis is caused by worn out cartilage. There is a shock absorbing tissue called cartilage in the joints that covers the ends of the bones to facilitate smooth movement of bones over each other. A healthy cartilage is thick enough to absorb the shock of the movement. When the cartilage is worn out or becomes thin,the bones rub against each other causing inflammation and pain. In due course the joint may lose it's shape and small bone growths called bone spurs can form at the edges of the bones. Pieces of cartilage can break off and drop into the joint space causing more pain. There are the types of arthritis namely osteoarthritis,rheumatoid arthritis.

Genetic predisposition may be the cause of osteoarthritis. It affects more women than men. It is found that high heels worn by women might have contributed since pressure on joints increase when they are worn. It generally affects older people in the age group 60-65.

Rheumatoid arthritis is called whole body illness. It is also caused by the genes. It also affects more women than men and affects the younger people in the age group 20-30. It causes fatigue and anemia. This type of arthritis worsens quickly and may permanently damage the joint within a year ,so early treatment is very important to avoid damage to the joints and to stop the progression of the disease.

The following tips may help. Consume more fish oil since it contains omega-3 fatty acids which have anti inflammatory properties and may ease the pain. Add lots of vegetables to your diet such as tomato,carrots,spinach which contain lots of vitamin-c and beta-carotene which might help in slowing down the progression of the disease. Take vitamin-e and vitamin-d supplements. Exercise regularly after consulting your doctor. It is found that brisk walking and jogging actually helps in controlling the disease. Join support group to get support and advice.Above all, be positive and face the challenge boldly. There is no known arthritis cure but only supportive care to reduce pain and to delay the progression of the disease.