Osteoarthritis is often referred to as a degenerative disease, and in general is the result of wear and tear on a joint due to aging, obesity, overuse, or injury. Cartilage, which is smooth and moist, becomes thin and rough, wearing itself down to the point of causing the bones to rub together, thus causing severe pain and reducing joint movement.
Most commonly, osteoarthritis affects the fingers, knees, hips, neck and lower back. If you have osteoarthritis, you may experience brief morning stiffness, pain with movement, bony growths on finger and knee joints, as well as joint “cracking” upon movement. Although cartilage breakdown may cause a little inflammation, osteoarthritis typically is not associated with inflammation.
On the other hand, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis(PsA) differs from osteoarthritis in that they are chronic, progressive, inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune diseases. When the immune system of a person with rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis goes astray, it mistakes joint tissue for a foreign invader, attacks the joint tissue, and causes inflammation. When the inflammatory process advances, enzymes and other chemical mediators can damage cartilage, bone, and ligaments. Causing, joints to become deformed and functions impair.
Although RA emerges most commonly between the ages of thirty to fifty, it can strike at any age, young and old. About one to three percent of the population is affected with rheumatoid
arthritis; however more women are affected than men. If you have RA, you might feel stiffness in the morning that lasts more than one hour, along with pain and swelling in your joints. Most commonly affecting the fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, ankles, neck and jaw in a symmetrical (equal) fashion, RA can also affect any part of your body.
Arthritis, Autoimmune Disorders, & Allergy
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Dr. Tsai organizes several of these articles together to discuss common arthritis, autoimmune, and allergy conditions. The goal of this book is to help those who may be suffering from arthritis, autoimmune disorders, or allergies gain a better understanding of what they’re feeling and how their condition may be treated.
Read the full book description...
For several years, Dr. Tsai has been writing bi-weekly medical columns for The Daytona Beach News-Journal. In this book, Dr. Tsai organizes several of these articles together to discuss common arthritis, autoimmune, and allergy conditions. The goal of this book is to help those who may be suffering from arthritis, autoimmune disorders, or allergies gain a better understanding of what they’re feeling and how their condition may be treated.
This book is broken into three parts:
Part 1 focuses on inflammatory arthritis conditions and their treatments. These include rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. (For information about osteoarthritis, check out Dr. Tsai’s second book:
Osteoarthritis, Soft Tissue Rheumatism, & Osteoporosis)
Part 2 looks at some autoimmune disorders and analyzes their causes, symptoms, and treatments.
Topics in this section include lupus and vasculitis.
Part 3 discusses allergies. The section explains types of allergic reactions, how they work, types of allergies, and how they can be treated.
Arthritis, Autoimmune Disorders, & Allergy was written to be easily read by anyone, no matter their level of medical knowledge. Additionally, several illustrations and photos are included to help visualize concepts and make them easier to grasp.
This book can be purchased online as an eBook or as a physical copy at our main office at the checkout desk or over the phone.