Arthritis and Osteoporosis
 Arthritis
is the leading cause of disability in the United States, and only
heart disease causes more people to miss work or need assistance with
their daily routines.
Arthritis is not a single disease--it includes more than a
hundred different conditions that affect joints and surrounding tissue.
Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, lupus, gout and
bursitis are a few of the more common conditions. Each has a different
treatment and different symptoms. There is no cure for most types of
arthritis, but their effects can be reduced considerably so patients can
improve quality of life. Some types of arthritis can be avoided by
preventing joint injuries and infections such as Lyme
disease, and weight
loss is credited with a decrease in osteoarthritis of the knee.
- Find out more: TMH rheumatologist John Conte, MD, recently
chatted with site visitors about new
treatments for arthritis. Plus, arthritis-related
links and in-depth information about osteoarthritis and rheumatoid
arthritis.
Osteoporosis is a condition of progressive loss and thinning of
bone tissue, making bones more prone to fracture. Failure to achieve good
bone strength in childhood and early adulthood places an individual at
risk, as does poor calcium intake, smoking, extreme thinness, consuming
more than two alcoholic drinks per day, and thyroid disease or a family
history of osteoporosis. Women, especially after menopause, are more
susceptible than men. The condition can be detected by a bone densitometry
and treated by medication, exercise and calcium and vitamin D supplements.
Both osteoporosis and osteoarthritis can be prevented or controlled by
regular, moderate exercise. The Rhode Island Department of Health offers
information on exercise and other self-management skills such as pain
control techniques. Call 401-222-7636 for details.
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