Osteoarthritis (OA) affects 27 million people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Best known as the “wear-and-tear” form of arthritis, OA breaks down cartilage between the joints, eventually causing the bones to grind together painfully. The most common type of arthritis, nearly one in two adults will develop knee OA during their lifetime.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the second most common type of arthritis, affecting around 1.5 million Americans. A systemic autoimmune disease, it mainly attacks the synovial joints: the hands and wrists, shoulders, elbows, knees, ankles, feet, and toes. RA may eventually deform or destroy the joints that it affects.

Arthritis is a leading cause of pain and disability worldwide. You can find plenty of advice about easing the pain of arthritis and other conditions with exercise, medication and stress reduction. How do you know what will work best for you?

Here are some do's and don'ts to help you figure it out.

Millions of people suffer from some form of arthritis. Since arthritis is commonly believed to be incurable, the standard medical response has been to simply prescribe medications to reduce the symptoms. This does nothing to heal the actual root of the issue, and only covers up the problem while potentially making other bodily functions worse.

However, the good news is that substantial evidence now shows that the pain and disability caused by arthritis can be alleviated, and even prevented through diet and alternative therapies.

Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that is caused by breakdown of cartilage, with eventual loss of the cartilage of the joints. Cartilage is a protein substance that serves as a "cushion" between the bones of the joints. When the cartilage deteriorates (degenerates), the bone next to it becomes inflamed and can be stimulated to produce new bone in the form of a local bony protrusion, called a "spur."

We've all heard it before — the general rule of thumb is that a good night's sleep consists of about seven to eight hours. But with late-night work, stress or Netflix binges, achieving the perfect amount of shut-eye can be difficult.

From guided meditations to nature sound playlists, there are a handful of apps out there to help you get the sleep you need and want. You probably already sleep next to your smartphone, so why not take advantage of what these apps have to offer?

The daily pain of Rheumatoid Arthritis affects 1-2% of the world’s population, with women three times more affected than men. If you’re one of these people and have questions about how others are treating their symptoms, you’re not alone.

So what works best for patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis?