Dr. Paul Waytz

Thanks for having me. It's a pleasure to be here.

Thanks for having me. It's a pleasure to be here.

Exactly, exactly. Well, first of all, the term itis means inflammation. So you could have pharyngitis, inflammation of the throat, and all sorts of tendonitis, inflammation of a tendon. So arthritis technically means inflammation of a joint, which is a very generic term.

Exactly, exactly. Well, first of all, the term itis means inflammation. So you could have pharyngitis, inflammation of the throat, and all sorts of tendonitis, inflammation of a tendon. So arthritis technically means inflammation of a joint, which is a very generic term.

For rheumatologists and physicians in general and healthcare practitioners, the term rheumatic disease is more encompassing because there are over 100 different kinds of arthritis or 100 different kinds of diseases. rheumatic disease, including some that have nothing to do with the joints. They may be inflammation of blood vessels or muscles or involve other things going on with the body.

For rheumatologists and physicians in general and healthcare practitioners, the term rheumatic disease is more encompassing because there are over 100 different kinds of arthritis or 100 different kinds of diseases. rheumatic disease, including some that have nothing to do with the joints. They may be inflammation of blood vessels or muscles or involve other things going on with the body.

Like I said, arthritis is a very generic term. There's many, many rheumatic diseases, some of which are obscure. We're probably recognizing new rheumatic diseases every few years. So like I say, at a cocktail party, we'll say arthritis between the several of us, we'll say rheumatic disease.

Like I said, arthritis is a very generic term. There's many, many rheumatic diseases, some of which are obscure. We're probably recognizing new rheumatic diseases every few years. So like I say, at a cocktail party, we'll say arthritis between the several of us, we'll say rheumatic disease.

Yeah, it's a great question. So a number of itises, like pharyngitis or carditis, could be caused by an infection like strep. A strep throat is truly an inflammation of the throat. Some viruses can cause inflammation of the heart and this type of thing. However, inflammation is a complicated process and there's many kinds of inflammation. So the root of most rheumatic diseases is inflammation.

Yeah, it's a great question. So a number of itises, like pharyngitis or carditis, could be caused by an infection like strep. A strep throat is truly an inflammation of the throat. Some viruses can cause inflammation of the heart and this type of thing. However, inflammation is a complicated process and there's many kinds of inflammation. So the root of most rheumatic diseases is inflammation.

And I want to come back to something related to that in a minute. And the itis or the inflammation is often caused by a disturbance of our immune system. So our immune system protects us from foreign agents, external agents, and really does an amazing job in terms of taking care of us.

And I want to come back to something related to that in a minute. And the itis or the inflammation is often caused by a disturbance of our immune system. So our immune system protects us from foreign agents, external agents, and really does an amazing job in terms of taking care of us.

But sometimes that immune system goes haywire, it goes awry and we start producing inflammatory problems as a basic term against our own organs and tissues.

But sometimes that immune system goes haywire, it goes awry and we start producing inflammatory problems as a basic term against our own organs and tissues.

Um, and my aside here is that the most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis or wear and tear arthritis, um, which is more of a degenerative process, um, where something is, it goes wrong with the cartilage of our joints, the spacer between the two bony surfaces and, um, There's wear and tear. You lose the normal joint function and joint protection and inflammation can occur.

Um, and my aside here is that the most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis or wear and tear arthritis, um, which is more of a degenerative process, um, where something is, it goes wrong with the cartilage of our joints, the spacer between the two bony surfaces and, um, There's wear and tear. You lose the normal joint function and joint protection and inflammation can occur.

So we have osteoarthritis, but it's often a secondary process to bone rubbing on bone or a fragment floating around a joint or something like that. So the most common kind of arthritis is kind of and it's becoming clear now that there's probably some immune issues related to it. is more wear and tear and related to other factors like overuse or being overweight and this type of thing.

So we have osteoarthritis, but it's often a secondary process to bone rubbing on bone or a fragment floating around a joint or something like that. So the most common kind of arthritis is kind of and it's becoming clear now that there's probably some immune issues related to it. is more wear and tear and related to other factors like overuse or being overweight and this type of thing.

But the most damaging kinds of arthritis, like rheumatoid, is a problem with autoimmunity.

But the most damaging kinds of arthritis, like rheumatoid, is a problem with autoimmunity.