What are the common types of arthritis?
Arthritis actually is an umbrella term covering more than 100 different diseases. Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis are the two most common conditions we come across. Osteoarthritis is a condition, in which the cartilage surface that lines the joints becomes damaged and eventually deteriorates, often affecting the hands, hips, knee and spine. Most people over 60 have some degree of osteoarthritis, although not all experience its most painful symptoms. Another common but very different type is Rheumatoid Arthritis, in which the immune system goes after healthy joint tissue, leading to inflammation and damage to the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis, which afflicts about one crore people in India and affects the young and the old alike, is not merely a physical disability but also affects the person’s life span.
