| Life, they say, is full of aches and pains. For millions of | | | | than among men. Rheumatoid arthritis is an |
| people with arthritis, living can be a nightmare since the | | | | autoimmune disease in which – for unknown |
| disease causes much suffering and misery. | | | | reasons - the body’s immune system attacks |
| Arthritis is the inflammation of the joints and is a | | | | joints, tissue, and body organs. |
| common chronic health problem in many parts of the | | | | In addition to pain and joint stiffness, symptoms may |
| world. It isn’t a single disease but a group of | | | | include a decreased appetite, fatigue, and fever. The |
| diseases characterized by pain, swelling, stiffness, and | | | | disease may disappear within a year but when |
| redness in one or more joints. There are over a | | | | symptoms return, they are often more severe. |
| hundred forms of arthritis with a host of causes but | | | | While there’s no cure for arthritis, you can ease the |
| the most common forms are osteoarthritis and | | | | pain and live a normal, productive life with the right |
| rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | medication. Aspirin is commonly prescribed for arthritis |
| Osteoarthritis commonly occurs in adults over 45 due | | | | but it can irritate the stomach. The same is true with |
| to the long-term wear and tear on the joints. The joints | | | | traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs |
| are normally cushioned by an elastic tissue called | | | | (NSAIDs) like mefenamic acid and naproxen. |
| cartilage that allows the bones to move smoothly | | | | While the much hyped about COX-2 inhibitors appear |
| against one another. When the cartilage deteriorates, | | | | to cause fewer gastrointestinal problems like ulcers, |
| the bones rub together, causing pain and swelling. | | | | they are more expensive and may increase a |
| Rheumatoid arthritis may strike at any age but it | | | | person’s risk of a heart attack. What’s more, |
| occurs most commonly among people in their 20s and | | | | COX-2 inhibitors aren’t necessarily more powerful |
| 30s. It occurs three times more often among women | | | | in relieving pain than traditional NSAIDs. |