Dr. Josh Bell on Whether Drinking Soda Can Worsen Your Arthritis

Over 70 million adults (1 in 3) in the United States are affected by arthritis. There are 3 basic types of arthritis: rheumatologic (inflammatory) arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, and osteoarthiritis.  Inflammatory arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis, is a condition in which the body sends inflammatory factors to the joint which destroys the joint over time.  Post-traumatic arthritis occurs after an injury in which there was damage to the joint which accelerates the breakdown of the joint.  The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which primarily affects middle aged and older adults and is often referred to as “wear and tear” arthritis.