Arthritis pain doesn’t have to go untreated

More than 58 million men, women and children in the United States, experience daily aches and pains, often severe, associated with arthritis; that’s one in four people. It is also the No. 1 cause of disability in the country, according to the Arthritis Foundation, with May as National Arthritis Awareness Month.

Joint inflammation associated with arthritis causes plaque build-up in the arteries, which slowly narrows blood vessels and blocks blood flow. For these reasons, arthritis makes it harder to manage other health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

Walking is one of the most beneficial ways to improve pain, fatigue, stiffness and swelling of the joints, associated with arthritis. It can improve function by about 40 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of bones, wears down over time. It typically affects the joints in hands, knees, hips and the spine.

Other forms of arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis, which causes pain, swelling and loss of function in the joints; gout, characterized by sudden and severe swelling, and redness in joints – most often in the big toe – caused by excess uric acid in the body; and fibromyalgia, which causes overall body pain, sleep difficulty and sometimes, emotional distress.

Treatment for arthritis varies depending on the type, severity and overall health of each person.

Talking with a primary care provider is recommended if concerns about arthritis arise, or if an individual begins to have difficulty or pain performing everyday tasks.