It is...

It Attacks...

It Causes...

Osteoarthritis

A degenerative joint disease caused by the breakdown of cartilage.

Approximately 27 million Americans, with women, the middle-aged and seniors more likely to suffer.

Joint pain, stiffness, inflammation, loss of movement, crackling sounds in the joints, bony growths at the bone ends.

Rheumatoid arthritis

An assault by a misguided immune system on the joint structures and tissues, as well as other parts of the body.

Some 1.3 million Americans, more than two-thirds of whom are female.

Joint pain and inflammation, swelling, stiffness, rheumatoid nodules (bumps under the skin), and potentially debilitating damage to the joints.

Gout

The result of an excess of uric acid in the bloodstream, which is "sequestered" in a joint.

Slightly over 2 million Americans, with men age 40-60 being the most likely victims.

Severe pain, inflammation, damage to the joint, often the "bunion joint" of the big toe.

Reiter's Syndrome/Reactive Arthritis

Arthritis that strikes as a reaction to infection in the body.

Men between the ages of 20 and 40 are the most common victims.

Pain, inflammation, skin rashes, and sores in the genital area or on the tongue.

Psoriatic arthritis

An inflammatory joint disease linked to the skin condition psoriasis.

Up to 23% of those who have psoriasis. Both sexes are struck at about the same rate. It can surface at any age, but is more common in those aged 30 to 55.

Inflammation and swelling of the joints, and joint deformity in more severe cases.

Ankylosing spondylitis

A long-term inflammatory disease that attacks the cartilage and related structures of the spine.

Several hundred thousand Americans, with men age 20 to 40 the most common targets.

Chronic inflammation of the spine, causing pain and stiffness. In advanced cases, the spine becomes "locked."

Lupus

A chronic autoimmune system disease that attacks the joints and other parts of the body.

Ninety percent of sufferers are women, particularly those in the child-bearing years.

Pain and swelling of the joints, fatigue, headaches, fever, a butterfly-shaped rash on the face, sensitivity to sunlight, and other symptoms.

Bursitis

Inflammation of small sacs in the joints called bursae.

People of all age, but is more common in the middle-aged and seniors.

Pain, tenderness, swelling, and movement limitation in the afflicted joint.

Tendinitis

Inflammation of a tendon, one of the "cords" that attaches muscle to bone.

People of all ages; the risk of suffering increases with age.

Pain, inflammation, movement limitation, clicking and popping sounds upon movement.

Raynaud's phenomenon

Constriction of the blood vessels in the fingers, toes, lips, ear lobes or nose.

Up to 15% of Americans, with women ages 15 to 25 being the most likely victims.

Pain, tingling, burning, numbness and discoloration of the skin.

Fibromyalgia

A syndrome of unknown causation that triggers pain in and near the joints, sleep disturbances, fatigue and other problems.

As many as 5% of American women, and 0.5% of men.

Pain and tenderness, chronic fatigue, headaches, memory and attention deficits, bloating, constipation, abdominal pain, noise sensitivity, unusual and uncontrollable movements of the eyes and other symptoms.