Fairfield-Echo.com

There are more than 100 different kinds of arthritis, which literally means joint inflammation. About 70 million Americans (one in three adults) are afflicted, and more than half of those have osteoarthritis, by far the most common form, especially among older people. Sometimes called degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis affects 12.1 percent of U.S. adults, or 20.7 million people. As with all types of arthritis, women are at higher risk than men for the condition.

Osteoarthritis occurs when the surface layer of cartilage-the protective tissue between bones at joints-breaks down and wears away. This allows bones under the cartilage to rub together, causing pain, swelling and loss of motion of the joint.

Osteoarthritis affects each person differently. In some people, it progresses more quickly; in others, the symptoms are more serious. Researchers do not yet know what causes the disease, but they suspect a combination of factors in the body and in the environment. Also, diet, weight and stresses on the joints from certain jobs affect the disease and how a person reacts to it.

Researchers suspect inheritance plays a role in 25 to 30 percent of osteoarthritis cases. A gene defect affecting collagen, an important part of cartilage, appears to be a key trigger in patients with an inherited kind of osteoarthritis that starts at an early age. In the future, a test to determine who carries the genetic defect (or defects) could help people reduce their risk for osteoarthritis with lifestyle adjustments.

The warning signs of osteoarthritis include steady or intermittent pain in a joint, worsening of pain with activity, stiffness after getting out of bed, joint swelling or tenderness in one or more joints, a crunching feeling or sound of bone rubbing on bone.

By age 65, more than half of the population has x-ray evidence of osteoarthritis in at least one joint. However, only one-third of people with osteoarthritis in their x-rays report pain or other symptoms.

You can lower your risk of developing osteoarthritis by losing weight and taking precautions to avoid on-the-job and sports injuries. Consult your health care professional before embarking on a weight-loss program.

If you have symptoms of arthritis, it is a good idea to see a health care professional immediately. Early intervention has proven to be a key to slowing progress of the disease.

A variety of medical and nonmedical options are available to help you manage osteoarthritis, including pain relievers, surgery, hyaluronic acid injections and diet and exercise modifications. Acupuncture, transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS), biofeedback and relaxation techniques are examples of alterative therapies that may provide some relief for arthritis pain.

Education is also an effective means of managing arthritis. The Arthritis Self-Help Course, developed at Stanford University and sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation, may help you reduce arthritis-related pain by 20 percent.