Q1. What is arthritis?

A1. The term arthritis is often used to refer to a single condition but there are in fact around 200 diseases which are classed as arthritis. This includes conditions which affect the joints as well as rheumatic aches and pains.

Arthritis is a chronic condition in which the joints (and sometimes the tendons and ligaments) become stiff, painful, swollen and inflamed. This is usually due to wear and tear of cartilage within these joints or an autoimmune disorder which causes these symptoms.

Find out more in what is arthritis? section.

Arthritis FAQs:

Arthritis FAQs

• Q1. What is arthritis?
• Q2. How common is arthritis?
• Q3. Does arthritis only affect older people?
• Q4. Why do many more women than men get arthritis?
• Q5. How many types of arthritis are there?
• Q6. What is the most common type of arthritis?
• Q7. Which joints are most likely to be affected by arthritis?
• Q8. What causes arthritis?
• Q9. What are the signs of arthritis?
• Q10. How is arthritis diagnosed?

• Q11. How is arthritis treated?
• Q12. What are anti-inflammatories?
• Q13. How do steroids work?
• Q14. What are disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs?
• Q15. What is methotrexate?
• Q16. What are anti-TNF drugs?
• Q17. What is Prednisolone?
• Q18. How do you cope with arthritis?
• Q19. Can you inherit an arthritis gene?
• Q20. Is there a cure for arthritis?