Discuss the occurrence and reasons of arthritis among late adults.

Answers will vary. Arthritis is joint inflammation that results from conditions affecting the structures inside and surrounding the joints. Symptoms progress from swelling, pain, and stiffness to loss of function. Children can also be affected by arthritis, but it is more common with advancing age. Arthritis is more common in women than men and in African Americans than European Americans. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common forms of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a painful, degenerative disease characterized by wear and tear on joints. By the age of 60, more than half of Americans show some signs of the disease. Among people over the age of 65, two of three have the disease. The joints most commonly affected are in the knees, hips, fingers, neck, and lower back. Osteoarthritis is caused by erosion of cartilage, the pads of fibrous tissue that cushion the ends of bones. As cartilage wears down, bones grind together, causing pain. Osteoarthritis is more common among obese people because excess weight adds to the load on the hip and knee joints. Health professionals use over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen) and prescription anti-inflammatory drugs to help relieve pain and discomfort. In severe cases, joint replacement surgery may be needed. Specific exercises are also sometimes prescribed. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by chronic inflammation of the membranes that line the joints because the body's immune system attacks its own tissues. The condition affects the entire body. It can produce unrelenting pain and eventually lead to severe disability. Bones and cartilage may also be affected. Onset of the disease usually occurs between the ages of 40 and 60. Anti-inflammatory drugs are used to treat it.