Arthritis is more than one disease. The three most common types are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout. All types of arthritis cause joint pain, swelling, and tenderness. Symptoms of arthritis tend to come and go. When they get suddenly worse, it is called an arthritis flare up. Sometimes the cause … Read More
Gout in foot, instep, and ankle areas is common, affecting up to 8 million Americans today. The condition has been recorded throughout history, affecting many famous people—the most notorious of whom was Henry VIII, renowned for his lavish diet of rich food and copious amounts of alcohol. What is gout? … Read More
According to the World Health Organization, an unhealthy diet is one of the major risk factors for a range of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and other conditions that are linked to obesity. While there is limited research on possible direct links between diet and arthritis, there is … Read More
Once your medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests have been evaluated, your medical provider may diagnose you with one of the following types of arthritis. It also is possible that you may be diagnosed with a multisystem disorder. Degenerative Arthritis OA is the main cause of degenerative arthritis. It … Read More
Arthritis refers to joint inflammation, but the term also is more loosely used to describe any disorder that affects the joints. It is a symptom, rather than a specific disease. Arthritic conditions fall into a wider disease category known as “rheumatic diseases.” There are more than 100 types, each with … Read More
Despite its name, pseudogout is real. It’s not gout, but there’s good reason it’s called “false gout.” Like gout, pseudogout is inflammatory arthritis caused by an excess of crystals in the joint fluid. And, like gout, it hurts, leaving your joint swollen and red. While gout is often triggered by … Read More
Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reveal that approximately 52.5 million Americans suffer from some form of arthritis, including osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and gout. Arthritic diseases may be mild in some people but can be debilitating in others. Symptoms characterized by joint pain, swelling, and stiffness … Read More
Your immune system is like a home security system. When you suffer an injury or infection, it sets off an alarm—what we know as an inflammatory response—by sending immune cells to neutralize viruses, bacteria, and other intruders that breach your outer defenses, thereby protecting healthy cells and tissues from damage. … Read More
Since gout is often thought of as a man’s disease, many women lack awareness of gout symptoms—foot pain, in particular—which means that many women have gout but aren’t aware they have it. “Although women are less likely than men to suffer from gout, a woman’s chance of developing gout increases … Read More
If you've been feeling bone pain, your doctor may take one look at that stiff, swollen joint or that loss of motion and suspect that what you’ve got is the inevitable onset of age-related osteoarthritis (OA) or the autoimmune disorder that leads to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). But to refine that … Read More
