While a great deal of time has been spent researching the many different types of arthritis, there is still much that is not understood about these conditions. No smoking gun cause has been identified and in many cases, scientists simply do not know what causes this group of diseases.

For example, rheumatoid arthritis, is very common among the elderly and, while it has been identified as an autoimmune disease, the exact factors that cause the body to attack itself are not actually known. This is true of many of the other more than a hundred different rheumatoid diseases that are classified as arthritis.

However, while the exact causes of most types of arthritis have not been determined, a number of risk factors have been found.

Injury, Obesity, and Wear and Tear

One of the most common risk factors for arthritis is the over-use of a joint or a previous injury. These sorts of factors can lead to a degenerative arthritis, like osteoarthritis, but have also been found to be related to other types of arthritis.

Those who preform regular high impact exercises or sports, for instance, have a much higher rate of developing arthritis later in life. Certain professions, such as those who work in agriculture or construction, are also more likely to develop arthritis. Minute repetitive motions, like typing, can also result in a higher risk of arthritis.

In those who experience injuries, the area that was injured is much more likely to have arthritis later in life as well.

Obesity, which is a huge problem in the United States, can have a major impact on health and increases the risk of a number of diseases, including heart disease. Obesity is, no pun intended, a growing problem in America, with the percent of obesity nearly doubling since 1960.

In terms of arthritis, the added weight put on joints, especially weight bearing ones like the hips and knees, results in a much higher risk of osteoarthritis, as well as several other kinds of arthritis.

Gender and Genetics

As there is still much that is not known in regards to arthritis, many of the factors that have been identified as potential causes have not been fully researched or proven. However, a number of observations have been made that indicate an increased risk for arthritis in certain people and genders.

Woman, for instance, have a much higher instance of arthritis than men, aside from a few of the less common types of arthritis. Aside from these few rare types, woman are otherwise essentially across the board develop arthritis more often than men.

A number of genes have been identified which, while not directly linked to causing arthritis, have been found to increase the risk for developing it.

There have also been families that have been found to have a higher risk of certain types of arthritis, so in at least some ways, arthritis can be a hereditary disease. Often, the risk of arthritis is related to another factor in the family line, however. As an example, some families have an increased risk for congenital birth defects, such as a displaced hip. This, in turn, increases the risk that arthritis will begin to develop at some point during the child’s life.

Age

Many people consider arthritis to be an elderly disease and there is some truth to it, as senior arthritis is very common and those who are over fifty are more likely to develop some sort of rheumatoid disease. Even though even children can develop arthritis, as the body ages, the risk of degenerative arthritis becomes much more common, as well as several other types of arthritis.

One theory is that as the body ages, the cartilage looses some of the fluid that naturally protects it, drying it out and making it prone to deterioration, as well as making it more brittle.

Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA) and Osteoarthritis are the two most common types of senior arthritis. While, like many of the more common types of arthritis, they share a number of similarities, like increased risk of joint deformity, they are actually quite different as well.

There are, of course, a number of things that are still unknown about what exactly causes arthritis, but in the case of both Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis, a number of risk factors have been identified, as well as probably causes.

What Causes Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis is quite different from most other types of arthritis, as it is tied to an autoimmune response in the body. In an autoimmune response, the cells in the body that would normally fight infection and disease actually end up attacking healthy cells. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, this leads to inflammation of cartilage and, in some cases, results in damage to other organs in the body, like the kidney.

Rheumatoid arthritis can be found in people of all ages and genders, however it is most common in woman. Interestingly, there is a bit of an age gap of when it will typically show up. In most cases, the disease will present itself in people who are under thirty-five or over seventy, with the risk for it developing in-between this time frame being much lower.

Since rheumatoid arthritis is tied to an autoimmune disease, many scientists hypothesize that it is related to an infection, as this is often the cause of other autoimmune responses. However, genetics, gender, and even stress have also been found to be possible aggravating risk factors that might increase the risk for this type of arthritis.

What Causes Osteoarthritis?

Even though many of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are also present in those with osteoarthritis, such as joint pain and inflammation, the diseases affect the body quite differently. For example, in most instances, the inflammation is a resulting symptom of the osteoarthritis, while in those with RA, the inflammation is the actual disease. Osteoarthritis is, on the other hand, a degenerative arthritis.

People are not exactly sure what causes osteoarthritis, however most research points between a relation to wear and tear of the joints and the development of the disease.

For example, being overweight is a leading risk factor of osteoarthritis and results in a lot more stress and pressure being placed on weight bearing joints. Those who play certain high impact sports, like football, are also at an increased risk of developing this type of disease. Injuries can also play a role, as the joint is weakened and damaged, making it wear out more rapidly.

Other factors, such as age and, in some rare instances, genetics, are also thought to be involved. Age is considered to be a factor as the fluid around a joint decreases, cartilage can become weaker and more prone to breaking.

Summary

Despite there being many differences between these two types of arthritis, the end result of the diseases is often very similar. In many cases, especially when the disease is not treated, deformity will occur and in almost all cases, some amount of limited mobility will develop. Often, joint pain and inflammation will make movement of the joint much more difficult and when it is a weight bearing joint, like the hip or knee, walking and standing up can become much more difficult.

Arthritis is a medical term that is used to describe a hundred different conditions, which typically affect joints and accessibility. Dealing with the symptoms of arthritis can be quite difficult and in many cases, the disease can affect people quite differently.

Despite there being over a hundred types of arthritis, the most common type is osteoarthritis, which is related to joint use and damage. Of the different types of arthritis, around 10 different types of arthritis make up the overwhelming majority of reported cases.

While age is one factor that increases the risk for arthritis, there are a number of different risk factors that can be related to arthritis.

Occupation and Injury

One of the largest risks of developing arthritis, especially later in life, is previous injuries and excessive wear and tear on the joints. This is one reason that professional athletes, especially those that participate in high risk sports, like football or soccer, as well as farmers, are at an increased risk for developing arthritis.

The risk is highest for osteoarthritis, which is a type of degenerative arthritis, but other types of arthritis can also develop when the body is injured.

Ultimately, whenever a joint has been injured, the risk for developing arthritis there is significantly increased. Those who preform regular high impact sports or exercises, as well as constant repetitive movements are also at an increased risk for developing arthritis.

Genetic Factors and Age

Many people associate arthritis with age, as it is more common among those who are over fifty-five, however those of all ages can develop arthritis. However, due to joints wearing down and other medical conditions, the risk for arthritis increases with age and is more common among the elderly.

Other factors, such as gender and genetic makeup are also risk factors of arthritis, with the disease being more common in women. In some cases, genes are also passed down from relatives that increase the risk for developing arthritis.

Heath and Lifestyle Choices

Other factors, such as smoking and general health also increase the risk for developing arthritis. Rheumatoid Arthritis, which is a type of autoimmune disorder, has been shown to be more common in those who smoke.

Obesity is also a major risk factor in osteoarthritis, which is known as wear and tear arthritis and is most common in weight bearing joints. Those that are overweight are at a much higher risk to develop this type of arthritis.

This is one reason that staying active is so important to those with arthritis. Regular safe low impact exercises can help strengthen joints and reduce the amount of stress put on the affected joints, which can have a major impact on arthritis pain, as well as reducing the risk of developing certain types of arthritis later in life.

Reducing the Risk of Arthritis

Often, the effects of arthritis can be largely minimized, by making safe and healthy lifestyle choices. Avoiding dangerous sports, which are high impact and can increase the risk for osteoarthritis, is a good idea, especially for those who are already at an increased risk for developing arthritis. Staying healthy and active is also very important, especially for those who are overweight.

These sorts of choices can often help to reduce the risk of developing arthritis, although it is important to keep in mind that some risk factors can not be avoided, like those related to genes.