ALL >> Education >> View Article
Your Basic Facts On Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of the skin and joints. It occurs in about one-fifth of people with psoriasis, a chronic skin condition, although either disease can precede the other by as much as 20 years. It can also affect areas other than the joints, such as the eyes, skin, mouth, and spine. Psoriatic arthritis affects men and women equally, but is more common between ages 30 and 50.
Types Of Psoriatic Arthritis
There are five known types of psoriatic arthritis:
Symmetric: This type is similar to rheumatoid arthritis in that the symptoms occur on either side of the body (both knees, both elbows, etc). It comprises about 50% of cases, and is disabling 50% of the time.
Asymmetric: This is a relatively mild form accounting for about 35% of cases. It does not affect symmetrical joints, and seldom occurs in more than three joints at a time.
Arthritis mutilans: This is a rare but aggressive condition, affecting less than 5% of patients. It takes place over several years and causes severe joint damage and deformation.
Spondylitis: ...
... This type causes severe stiffness and is usually symmetrical. It normally affects the spine or neck, but may also occur in the hands and feet.
Distal interphalangeal predominant: This is characterized by changes in the nail's appearance and texture, and stiff swelling of fingers and toes. It occurs in about 5% of patients.
Causes Of Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints. The exact reasons are not known, but scientists believe that bacteria in the affected skin can act as a trigger. Patients with psoriasis affecting the nails are more likely to develop psoriatic arthritis. Genetics is also considered a risk factor, as both psoriasis and arthritis can run in the family.
Treatment
Psoriatic arthritis is usually treated with drugs and therapy.
Drug treatment Of Psoriatic Arthritis
First-line treatment involves non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin to relieve the pain and swelling. Patients may be allowed to try different NSAIDs to find what works best for them.
Disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) are used to slow the progression of the disease. They may take several weeks to start working, so it's important to keep taking them even when no improvements are observed. They can also cause serious side effects and must be taken only under prescription.
Therapy For Psoriatic Arthritis
Physical activity plays a key role in alleviating psoriatic arthritis symptoms. Exercise therapy is usually recommended when the inflammation affects the spinal joints. Heat and cold treatment can help relieve pain and restore some mobility to the joints. Occupational therapists can design daily tasks to prevent further damage to the joints. Useful sites for more information are - hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/Psoriatic_arthritis.html and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psoriatic_arthritis.
The author Joy King managers the free online medical advice website which is published by Dr Vivienne Balonwu. Here you can get free medical advice on a wide range of medical conditions to help you understand you doctors explanations when you visit for medical consultations.
Add Comment
Education Articles
1. Assignment Help In The Uk: Expert Support For Academic SuccessAuthor: Nick Dell
2. The Best Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Training And Certification
Author: SIVA
3. Data Science Course Exploring Generative Ai In Data Science? Transformative Applications And Techniques
Author: Eshwar
4. Amazon Quicksight Training | Aws Quicksight Training In Hyderabad
Author: himaram
5. Microsoft Fabric Training | Expert Led Microsoft Fabric Course
Author: Renuka
6. Data Science And Artificial Intelligence: Collaborators In Technological Innovation
Author: Gajendra
7. Kubernetes Certification Training Course | Docker Online Training
Author: krishna
8. Curriculum At Diyafah International School
Author: diyafah
9. Affordable World-class Medical Education For Aspiring Doctors
Author: Mbbs Blog
10. Explore The World With Your International Driving Licence
Author: Motolic
11. Building Credibility In Ai: How Generative Ai Certifications Enhance Professional Trust
Author: Dorothy Benson
12. Assignment Help In The Uk: Your Path To Academic Success
Author: Nick Dell
13. Germany's 90,000 Work Visa Initiative A New Chapter For Indian Talent
Author: Videsh
14. The Best Google Data Engineer Certification Online Training In Hyderabad
Author: SIVA
15. Scrum Master Training - Scrum Master Online Training
Author: himaram