Arthritis and Stress…
By Jack Schetter
The Nature of Arthritis
 Occurs within the joint
(area where two bones
meet)
 Inflammation of one or
more joints
 Over 100 different types
Cartilage
 Protects the joint
 Allows it to move
smoothly
 Absorbs shock
 *Arthritis=Breakdown of
Cartilage
 Without it, bones rub
together
 Causes pain, swelling
(inflammation), and
stiffness
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002223/
What Causes Arthritis?
Possible Causes include:
 An Auto immune disease
(Body’s immune system mistakenly
attacks healthy tissue)
 Broken Bone
 General Wear and Tear
 Infection cause by
bacteria or virus
Common Types of Arthritis
Include:
 Gout
 Juvenile Rheumatoid
Arthritis
 Rheumatoid Arthritis
 Scleroderma
Signs and Symptoms include…
 Joint Pain
 Swelling
 Stiffness
 Reduced Mobility
 Warmth Around the Joint
 Redness of the Skin
Around the Joint
Signs and Tests
Physical Exam checks for:
 Fluid around the joint
 Warm, red, tender joints
 Difficulty moving a joint
 Joint deformity
(swollen/misshaped)
 May have joint fluid sent
to a lab and evaluated
Who gets arthritis?
 1.3 million people in US
have it
 Older teens can still get
arthritis
 Nearly three times as
many women affected
than men
 300,000 children
diagnosed with
inflammatory arthritis
 Most commonly occurs
from 30-60 years of age
 Occurs in all ethnic
groups in EVERY part of
the world
 Occurs later in life for
men
http://www.arthritis.org/who-gets-rheumatoid-arthritis.php
Stress in relation to Arthritis…
Studies
 Studies in lab rats have
shown a relationship to
stress and the
development of arthritis
 People have connected
their involvement of
arthritis with stress
Chronic arthritis adds to the
stress of:
 Pain
 Fatigue
 Depression
 Dependence (pain
mediation)
 altered finances,
employment
 social life
 self-esteem and selfimage.
Stress and Arthritis continued…
 Difficulties of chronic
arthritis causes more
stress
 Stress causes muscle
tension, resulting in
worsening arthritic
symptoms
 Worsening symptoms =
More stress (vicious
cycle continues)
Arthritis symptoms  Increased
Stress  Worsened arthritis
symptoms  Causes more stress
 Identify cause of stress
 Express thoughts and
feelings
 Manage your time
 Avoid depending on
drugs and alcohol
 Become mentally and
physically fit
 Develop a sense of
humor
 Realize you can only
change yourself, not
others
 Allow self to be
Imperfect
 Practice Relaxation
techniques
Treatments for Arthritis help to…
 Reduce Pain
 Improve Function
 Prevent Further Joint Damage
Underlying causes cannot usually be cured
Main treatment = Lifestyle Changes
Life style changes include…
Medication
 Avoid staying in one
position for too long
o Involve Risks
 Get enough sleep (heal
body)
o May be prescribed in
more serious cases
 Stress reducing activities
(yoga)
o Over the counter drugs
(Aspirin, ibuprofen) help
relieve pain
 Make things easily
accessible in house
 Eat healthy diet (Fish
oils, omega 3’s,
micronutrient dense
foods)
Arthritis Management
 Exercise programs (low
impact)
 *Range of motion
exercises (help
flexibility)
 Strength training to
improve muscle tone
 Physical Therapy (Heat
and Ice, Message)
THE END!
Sources
 Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. "Arthritis." Arthritis. U.S. National
Library of Medicine, 18 Jan. 0001. Web. 06 Mar. 2013.
 Eustice, Carole. "The Effect Of Stress On Arthritis."
About.com Arthritis & Joint Conditions. About.com, n.d.
Web. 06 Mar. 2013.
 Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Definition." Mayo Clinic. Mayo
Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 02 Nov.
2011. Web. 06 Mar. 2013.
 "Who Gets Rheumatoid Arthritis?" Who Gets Rheumatoid
Arthritis? Arthritis Foundation, n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2013.
 "Arthritis-Related Statistics." Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
01 Aug. 2011. Web. 06 Mar. 2013.