What is ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing Spondylitis is best described as pervasive form of chronic arthritis. The disease has a tendency to affect the spine, although it can be a problem in other areas such as hips, knees and ankles. Statistically, ankylosing spondylitis will occur more often in men than in women, but such a statement in no way precludes woman from being at risk. What are the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis? Ankylosing spondylitis is not dissimilar to arthritis in the sense that is offers the standard symptoms of pain and inflammation at the affected joint, although there are some other symptoms that are more unique. These standard and additional symptoms include: - Possible inflammation of the eye, more specifically the iris (known as iritis) - Inflammation of the heart, lungs and also the chest wall. - Stiffness and pain at the site of the disease. - Limited motion of the affected joint. - Gradual deterioration in condition to such point that progress is difficult to gauge. - Tiredness and lethargy. - Difficulty getting moving in the morning particularly in colder climates. - General aches and pains in affected area. Although iritis was previously mentioned as a symptom of ankylosing spondylitis, is occurs in less than one third of all cases, thus making diagnosis somewhat more difficult. More information is available at http://www.ankylosinginfo.com/. As with all inflammation, these symptoms can be serious if not treated due to the fact that scarring can result, inhibiting the function of the affected organs. Basically, if you have suffered from gradual and persistent back or joint pain, which began before the age of about 40 years, and is gradually worsening, then you may wish to seek a medical exam to assess weather you have ankylosing spondylitis. Furthermore, family history and personal medical history are both useful tools for diagnosis. Treatments: A large part of successful treatment is simply maintaining a responsible level of physical activity. Such activity must not result in undue impact or stress upon affected joints but movement and activity can play a major role in controlling ankylosing spondylitis. Remember to always seek professional medical advice from a certified medical practitioner before making any decision regarding this or any other medical advice that you may receive. More information is available at http://www.ankylosinginfo.com/ . Much like treatment for arthritis, the treatment for ankylosing spondylitis is focused around keeping inflammation to manageable levels and reducing the associated pain. The aim of these treatments, are simply to enable people to continue to engage in as many of their usual daily activities. As previously mentioned, a cause for concern lies in the inflammation and hence possible scarring of internal organs such as the heart, lungs and chest wall, so annual check of the progress of the disease are important, even for those who do not wish to be medicated for the control of inflammation or pain.