Arthritis -- literally meaning joint inflammation -- is a rheumatic disease that affects tens of millions of Americans. It affects people of all ages, but most often comes on as a person gets older.

While the term arthritis often is loosely used to describe the more than 100 rheumatic conditions, this site's focus is exclusively on forms of arthritis that primarily involve joints. Those rheumatic conditions that may involve the joints but primarily affect other organs and tissues -- such as lupus and scleroderma -- are not covered here.

Degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) is the most common type of arthritis. More than 20 million Americans suffer from this chronic condition.

The second most common type is rheumatoid arthritis, affecting more than 2.1 million Americans. For about one in six of these, the disease will shorten their life.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is sometimes called degenerative arthritis because it involves the breakdown of cartilage and bones. This causes pain and stiffness. Osteoarthritis usually affects the fingers and weight-bearing joints, including the knees, feet, hips and back. It affects both men and women, and usually occurs after age 45.

Most people over age 60 have osteoarthritis to some degree, but its severity varies, and some people develop more severe symptoms than others.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis can strike at any age, but usually appears between ages 20 and 50. In rheumatoid arthritis, a fault in the body's defense or immune system causes inflammation that begins in the joint lining and then damages both cartilage and bone. Rheumatoid arthritis often affects the same joints on both sides of the body. Hands, wrists, feet, knees, ankles, shoulders and elbows can be affected. Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in women than in men.

All information provided in this site is offered for educational purposes only, and it is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your own physician or healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.