We all either have experienced or know a loved one who has experienced problems with arthritis. The main symptom of arthritis is joint pain which can range from moderate to severe. What is confusing is why arthritis affects some people and not others.

Scientists really don’t understand what makes some people susceptible to arthritis while others don’t have problems with it at all. It is not something you can catch from another person like the common cold. A joint disorder, arthritis comes on slowly and can get worse with time. There are many different kinds of arthritis, all with slightly different causes.

Arthritis is associated with many different risk factors, and the more arthritis risk factors you have, the higher the chances of you developing arthritis. These may not be the sole cause of your problem but they contribute.

As you get older, your risk of developing arthritis gets higher. This is largely because your joints are aging and wearing, which may increase your symptoms. The natural aging of your joints and the damage that occurs may cause arthritis to progress faster than it would otherwise. Arthritis is common among older adults for this reason.

If you are overweight, you are at additional risk for developing arthritis. The extra weight that you carry puts stress on your joints, particularly the weight-bearing joints, and causes damage over time. Losing weight by dieting and exercise will lower your risk for developing arthritis.

If you have a sports injury or something similar, you may be at additional risk for arthritis. Your likelihood of developing arthritis also increases if you’ve previously injured a joint. Take care of any injuries that occur and make sure they heal properly.

There may be a genetic factor with arthritis so you may be at extra risk if you have a family history of the disease. People who have arthritis in their family, especially a close family member, may develop arthritis. If your parents have arthritis, for instance, you’re at risk of developing the disease, although it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will have arthritis. You can lower your risk of developing arthritis later on by taking care of your body right now.

People who participate in athletics and sports are more likely to develop arthritis. This is partially because they are more likely to have joint injuries and other damage to their bodies. The science really only shows a slight connection, though, so it is not safe to assume that all athletes will develop arthritis. If you exercise safely and don’t put too much stress on your body, you should be fine.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is what almost all of us associate with the word arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a more severe form with many of the same symptoms but caused by different factors. With Rheumatoid arthritis, the damage to the joints is caused by your immune system attacking your body from the inside.

If you have arthritis, there is no magic cure. You can find out as much as you can about your condition and possible treatments, though.