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See a Doctor if... |
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You have pain or swelling in your joints.
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Risk Factors
Risk factors for osteoarthritis
- Trauma to joint. This can be sudden, as in a sports injury or a fall. Or it can be gradual, as in recurring minor injuries.
- Overweight. Being overweight greatly increases the strain on the weight-bearing joints, even for everyday activities.
- Family history of osteoarthritis.
- Prior joint surgery.
- Age greater than 40.
- Overuse of certain joints.
- Improper alignment of joints.
Risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis
Risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are less well known than those for osteoarthritis. According to the National Institutes of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases, RA results from the interaction of many factors such as genes, hormones, and the environment. A person's genetic makeup and family history may factor in developing the disease, but may not be an overriding factor. The organization says that some evidence links infectious agents, such as viruses and bacteria, to trigger RA in people with an inherited tendency to develop the disease. Specific agents, however, have not been identified. RA is usually diagnosed before age 50.
In the Encyclopedia: Seniors' health
Ankylosing spondylitis
Antinuclear antibody test
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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