Common Types and Causes of Arthritis

There are over 80 types of arthritis and each one has different cause. Causes of arthritis may include joint inflammation, infection, aging, malfunctions in the immune and nervous systems, metabolic disorders, hypothermia, injuries and so on.

Infectious Arthritis
The most common cause for inflammation of joints and consequent lesion is infection. When body is attacked by various kinds of harmful bacteria, virus or fungus, a natural protective system takes care of our body and it is called immune system. The immune system starts producing immune complexes, but when immunity of person is disturbed, too many substances are produced for protection, and they start destroying not only the harmful bacteria but the beneficial bacteria, and similarly joints also come under attack. This leads to infectious arthritis.

Traumatic Arthritis
Traumatic arthritis occurs and develops mainly due to injury with damage to the joint. This may also occur because of constant or excessive strain on the joints, resulting in forced motion of joints. In case of inflammation of joints, trauma can lead to the development of arthritis or its aggravation. Constant and small traumas of joints can also result in the development of occupational arthritis. Mechanical factors also play an important role in causing degenerative damage to joints. People who work as tailors, barbers, and masseurs, for example, are more likely to suffer from arthritis of fingers. The laborers are very much prone to the arthritis of spine. Arthritis in obese people is very common because of the high stress on joints. Abnormalities arising as a result of congenital hip dislocation, intra-articular or periarticular fractures, and chronic inflammation, result in permanent traumas thereby leading to development of arthritis.

Endocrine Arthritis
Disturbance in the functioning of endocrine glands can also lead to so-called endocrine arthritis. The most common example is the appearance of rheumatoid or degenerative arthritis in women during menopause, when hormonal changes take place in the reproductive system of women.

Osteoarthritis
Causes of the most common type of arthritis i.e. osteoarthritis can be many such as prolonged physical loads, which can be related to the work, sports, body overweight, injury of joints or genetic predisposition. Permanent loads can lead to the weakening of cartilages and ultimately they may collapse.

Gouty Arthritis
Gouty arthritis develops as a result of genetic predisposition, obesity, malnutrition, consumption of large amounts of proteins and alcohol.

Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which can be caused by the changes in the immune mechanisms of the patient due to viral infections, mental and physical stress.

Prevention of arthritis should be aimed at by addressing the causes of the disease.