One of the many mistaken beliefs about arthritis is that this is a disease that only affects the elderly. In fact, you can develop this condition at any age – there are more than 100 different types of arthritis and only some of them are linked to age.
The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, often referred to as the “wear-and-tear” arthritis, and the one you are most likely to get as you grow older. Osteoarthritis (OA) affects around 8.5 million people in the UK alone and usually develops after the age of 45. However, no matter your age, you are at risk of OA if you suffer a bone fracture or joint-related injury. And OA is not an inevitable part of ageing either because not every elderly or older person has the condition.
OA is more common in women than in men and occurs when the cartilage or tissue around the joints wears away or thins. This causes painful inflammation in the tissue and also leads to bony growths from the joints that are misshapen and also painful.
Young people under the age of 16 can also develop one of several types of arthritis known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). This group of illnesses usually presents symptoms before the age of five – infants can also develop arthritis – and is again more common in girls than boys. Fortunately, more than half of all children who have JIA will suffer no long-term joint damage and little or no problems in adulthood.
Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect people of all ages, sexes and ethnicity. This is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the tissue around the joints – usually affecting both knees, both wrists etc – and causing severe and painful inflammation.
Arthritis is a chronic condition that can affect you at any age so when you do develop any symptoms of the disease, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible.
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