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.