What Causes Arthritis – Are You at Risk?
If you have recently been diagnosed with arthritis, you may find yourself wondering, “What causes arthritis?” You are not alone. Many people wonder what causes arthritis, even if they are not living with it. The answer to what causes arthritis is complex. Different types of arthritis have different causes. For example, rheumatoid arthritis is caused by inflammation as a result of your immune system attacking your joints. Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, has no one specific cause. Genetics and lifestyle may be contributing factors, though. Learning whether or not you are at risk for either type of arthritis could help you prevent it or cope with it easier if you are ever diagnosed with it.
When you know what causes arthritis, it might be possible to protect yourself from it. This is the case with osteoarthritis. Researchers who have also wondered what causes arthritis have found that several factors may play a role in this disease. One possible cause is genetics. Osteoarthritis seems to be related to a defect in the gene that regulates the production of collagen. This is a pretty rare genetic defect, though. Weight has also been suggested as a factor in what causes arthritis. Extra weight puts more stress on your joints and can cause them to suffer damage over time, resulting in osteoarthritis.
Researchers who have been studying what causes arthritis have made great progress in pinpointing some genetic factors that might contribute to rheumatoid arthritis. However, not all people with these genes will develop rheumatoid arthritis. Studies that investigate what causes arthritis have also linked other factors to the development of rheumatoid arthritis. When looking into what causes arthritis, researchers found that viruses and bacteria can set the condition off in patients who had a genetic predisposition for it. Female hormones have also been implicated in the disease, as well as traumatic or stressful events.
Now that you have an idea of what causes arthritis, you should know that there are ways you can protect yourself. Unfortunately, if you have one of the genes or genetic effects that will predispose you to arthritis, there is nothing you can do about that. However, knowing what causes arthritis will allow you to combat it in some ways. For example, getting plenty of exercise and losing some weight if necessary can help protect you from osteoarthritis. Stress can be a factor in what causes arthritis in the case of rheumatoid arthritis, so finding healthy ways to deal with stress can reduce your risk of developing this disease.
