Health
Arthritis and Joints
Osteoarthritis is a condition that begins with the breakdown of cartilage in
joints, resulting in joint pain and stiffness. It is the most common form of
arthritis in the United States, affecting more than 20 million Americans.
Healthy joints need healthy cartilage, a substance made of water and collagen
that covers and cushions bones, creating a firm, slippery coating within the
joint for flexibility and easy movement. Cartilage can, and does, break down
with age.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) involves inflammation of the lining of many different
joints in your body. In some people, RA can also affect other parts of the body,
includinq the blood, the lungs, and the heart. The affected joint may also lose
its shape, resulting in loss of normal movement. RA affects about 2.1 million
Americans, or about 1% of the adult population in the United States. This
disease is two to three times more common in women than in men, and generally
affects people between the ages of 20 and 50. However, young children can
develop a form of RA called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
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