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What are the causes and types of arthritis?

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Arthritis means joint inflammation, but the term is used to describe around 200 conditions that affect joints, the tissues that surround the joint and other connective tissue. It is a rheumatic condition.

The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. Other common rheumatic conditions related to arthritis include gout, fibromyalgia, and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).

Rheumatic conditions tend to involve pain, aching, stiffness, and swelling in and around one or more joints. The symptoms can develop gradually or suddenly. Certain rheumatic conditions can also involve the immune system and various internal organs of the body. Some forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus (SLE), can affect multiple organs and cause widespread symptoms.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 54.4 million adults in the United States have received a diagnosis of some form of arthritis. Of these, 23.7 million people have their activity curtailed in some way by their condition. Arthritis is more common among adults aged 65 years or older, but it can affect people of all ages, including children.

Fast Facts

Here are some key points about arthritis. More detail is in the main article.

  • Arthritis refers to around 200 rheumatic diseases and conditions that affect joints, including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
  • It can cause a range of symptoms and impair a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks.
  • Physical activity has a positive effect on arthritis and can improve pain, function, and mental health.
  • Factors in the development of arthritis include injury, abnormal metabolism, genetic makeup, infections, and immune system dysfunction.

Treatment aims to control pain, minimize joint damage, and improve or maintain quality of life. It involves medications, physical therapies, and patient education and support. Treatment for arthritis aims to control pain, minimize joint damage, and improve or maintain function and quality of life. A range of medications and lifestyle strategies can help achieve this and protect joints from further damage.

Treatment involves

  • medications
  • non-pharmacologic therapies
  • physical or occupational therapy
  • splints or joint assistive aids
  • patient education and support
  • weight loss
  • surgery, including joint replacement

Natural remedies

A healthful, balanced diet with appropriate exercise, avoiding smoking, and not drinking excess alcohol can help people with arthritis maintain their overall health.

Diet

There is no specific diet that treats arthritis, but some types of food may help reduce inflammation.

The following foods, found in a Mediterranean diet can provide many nutrients that are good for joint health:

  • fish
  • nuts and seeds
  • fruits and vegetables
  • beans
  • olive oil
  • whole grains

Foods to avoid

There are some foods that people with arthritis may want to avoid. Nightshade vegetables (such as eggplant, peppers, potatoes), contain a chemical called solanine that some studies have linked with arthritis pain. Research findings are mixed when it comes to these vegetables, but some people have reported a reduction in arthritis symptoms when avoiding nightshade vegetables.

Self-management of arthritis symptoms

Key strategies include:

  • staying physically active
  • achieving and maintaining a healthy weight
  • getting regular check-ups with the doctor
  • protecting joints from unnecessary stress

 Being organized: Keep track of symptoms pain levels, medication and possible side effects for consultations with your doctor.

Managing pain and fatigue: A medication regimen can be combined with non-medical pain management. Learning to manage fatigue is the key to living comfortably with arthritis.

Stay active: Exercise is beneficial for managing arthritis and overall health.

Balancing activity with rest: in addition to remaining active, rest is equally important when your disease is active.

Eating healthy diet: A balanced diet can help you achieve a healthy weight and control inflammation. Avoid refined, processed foods and pro-inflammatory animal-derived foods and choose whole plant foods that are high in antioxidants and that have anti-inflammatory properties.

Improving sleep: Poor sleep can aggravate arthritis pain and fatigue. Take steps to improve sleep hygiene so you find it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. Avoid caffeine and strenuous exercise in the evenings and restrict screen-time just before sleeping.

Care for joints: Do not sit in the same position for long time. Take regular breaks to keep mobile.

Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7621.php

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Retinal Detachment: Types, Causes and Symptoms

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The retina is a light-sensitive membrane located at the back of the eye. When light passes through your eye, the lens focuses an image on your retina. The retina converts the image to signals that it sends to your brain through the optic nerve. The retina works with the cornea, lens, and other parts of your eye and brain to produce normal vision.

Retinal detachment occurs when the retina separates from the back of your eye. This causes loss of vision that can be partial or total, depending on how much of the retina is detached. When your retina becomes detached, its cells may be seriously deprived of oxygen. Retinal detachment is a medical emergency. Call your doctor right away if you suffer any sudden vision changes.

There’s a risk of permanent vision loss if retinal detachment is left untreated or if treatment is delayed.

Symptoms of retinal detachment

There’s no pain associated with retinal detachment, but there are usually symptoms before your retina becomes detached. Primary symptoms include:

  • blurred vision
  • partial vision loss, which makes it seem as if a curtain has been pulled across your field of vision, with a dark shadowing effect
  • sudden flashes of light that appear when looking to the side
  • suddenly seeing many floaters, which are small bits of debris that appear as black flecks or strings floating before your eye

Types and causes of retinal detachment

There are three types of retinal detachment:

  • rhegmatogenous
  • tractional
  • exudative

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

If you have a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, you have a tear or hole in your retina. This allows fluid from within your eye to slip through the opening and get behind your retina. The fluid separates the retina from the retinal pigment epithelium, which is the membrane that provides your retina with nourishment and oxygen, causing the retina to detach. This is the most common type of retinal detachment.

Tractional retinal detachment

Tractional retinal detachment occurs when scar tissue on the retina’s surface contracts and causes your retina to pull away from the back of your eye. This is a less common type of detachment that typically affects people with diabetes mellitus. Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus can lead to issues with the retinal vascular system, and this vascular damage can later lead to scar tissue accumulation in your eye that could cause retinal detachment.

Exudative detachment

In exudative detachment, there are no tears or breaks in your retina. Retinal diseases such as the following cause this type of detachment:

  • an inflammatory disorder causing fluid accumulation behind your retina
  • cancer behind your retina
  • Coats’ disease, which causes abnormal development in the blood vessels such that they leak proteins that build up behind your retina

Who is at risk for retinal detachment?

Risk factors for retinal detachment include:

  • posterior vitreous detachment, which is common in older adults
  • extreme nearsightedness, which causes more strain on the eye
  • a family history of retinal detachment
  • trauma to your eye
  • being over 50 years old
  • prior history of retinal detachment
    • complications from cataract removal surgery
    • diabetes mellitus
    Diagnosis of retinal detachmentTo diagnose retinal detachment, your doctor will perform a thorough eye exam. They’ll check:
    • your vision
    • your eye pressure
    • the physical appearance of your eye
    • your ability to see colors
    Your doctor might also test the ability of your retina to send impulses to your brain. They may check the blood flow throughout your eye and specifically in your retina.Your doctor may also order an ultrasound of your eye. This is a painless test that uses sound waves to create an image of your eye.Preventing retinal detachmentIn general, there’s no way to prevent retinal detachment. However, you can take steps to avoid retinal detachment that results from an injury by wearing protective eyewear when playing sports or using tools. If you have diabetes, control your blood sugar and see your doctor regularly. Get yearly eye exams, especially if you have risks for retinal detachment.It’s important to know the symptoms of retinal detachment. Recognizing when you may have a retinal problem and seeking medical care immediately can save your vision.https://www.healthline.com/health/retinal-detachment#outlook

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Types of Lung diseases

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Asthma: The airways are persistently inflamed, and may occasionally spasm, causing wheezing and shortness of breath. Allergies, infections, or pollution can trigger asthma’s symptoms.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): Lung conditions defined by an inability to exhale normally, which causes difficulty breathing.
Chronic bronchitis: A form of COPD characterized by a chronic productive cough.
Emphysema: Lung damage allows air to be trapped in the lungs in this form of COPD. Difficulty blowing air out is its hallmark.
Acute bronchitis: A sudden infection of the airways, usually by a virus.
Cystic fibrosis: A genetic condition causing poor clearance of mucus from the bronchi. The accumulated mucus results in repeated lung infections.
Lung Diseases Affecting the Air Sacs (Alveoli)
The airways eventually branch into tiny tubes (bronchioles) that dead-end into clusters of air sacs called alveoli. These air sacs make up most of the lung tissue. Lung diseases affecting the alveoli include:

Pneumonia: An infection of the alveoli, usually by bacteria.
Tuberculosis: A slowly progressive pneumonia caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Emphysema results from damage to the fragile connections between alveoli. Smoking is the usual cause. (Emphysema also limits airflow, affecting the airways as well.)
Pulmonary edema: Fluid leaks out of the small blood vessels of the lung into the air sacs and the surrounding area. One form is caused by heart failure and back pressure in the lungs’ blood vessels; in another form, direct injury to the lung causes the leak of fluid.
Lung cancer has many forms, and may develop in any part of the lungs. Most often this is in the main part of the lung, in or near the air sacs. The type, location, and spread of lung cancer determines the treatment options.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): Severe, sudden injury to the lungs caused by a serious illness. Life support with mechanical ventilation is usually needed to survive until the lungs recover.
Pneumoconiosis: A category of conditions caused by the inhalation of a substance that injures the lungs. Examples include black lung disease from inhaled coal dust and asbestosis from inhaled asbestos dust.
Lung Diseases Affecting the Interstitium
The interstitium is the microscopically thin, delicate lining between the lungs’ air sacs (alveoli). Tiny blood vessels run through the interstitium and allow gas exchange between the alveoli and the blood. Various lung diseases affect the interstitium:

Interstitial lung disease (ILD): A broad collection of lung conditions affecting the interstitium. Sarcoidosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and autoimmune disease are among the many types of ILD.
Pneumonias and pulmonary edemas can also affect the interstitium.
Lung Diseases Affecting Blood Vessels
The right side of the heart receives low-oxygen blood from the veins. It pumps blood into the lungs through the pulmonary arteries. These blood vessels can suffer from disease, as well.

Pulmonary embolism (PE): A blood clot (usually in a deep leg vein, deep vein thrombosis) breaks off, travels to the heart, and is pumped into the lungs. The clot lodges in a pulmonary artery, often causing shortness of breath and low blood oxygen levels.
Pulmonary hypertension: Various conditions can lead to high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries. This can cause shortness of breath and chest pain. When no cause is identified, the condition is called idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

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