Arthritis affects people of all age groups. More than 100 types of arthritis are known. Among these osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis having the highest incidence. One of the leading causes of chronic impairment in industrialized countries is osteoarthritis, which results from joint damage that may be due to trauma, infection, or age-related wear and tear. Rheumatoid arthritis is less common than osteoarthritis and is estimated to affect approximately 1 percent of the world's population. Among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, women are three times more likely to be affected by this disease than men. This condition is caused by an inflammatory process in which the body begins to attack itself. Rheumatoid arthritis also affects multiple joints, with inflammation sometimes seen in and around the lungs, heart, eyes and skin. Pain is the most common complaint reported by arthritis patients. The pain can originate in the joint itself and result from inflammation, damage from disease, or daily wear and tear. Muscle pain is also common and is caused by having to force movements against stiff, painful joints. Although the range of motion of the affected joint may be limited and uncomfortable, exercise has been shown to benefit people with arthritis. Physical therapy has been shown to significantly improve function, decrease pain in the long term, and delay the need for surgery in advanced cases. The majority of cases of arthritis occur in older people, but the disease can also occur in children. More than 70% of the population affected by arthritis in North America is over the age of 65 (4). The disease occurs more frequently in women than men, across all races, age groups and ethnicities...... middle of article ......l GMC. In Europe, patients suffering from arthritis are diagnosed with a delay of 6 months. However, in the United Arab Emirates, this period is 18 months. UAE World Arthritis Day recently ended. It was organized by the Emirates Arthritis Foundation on October 12 and 13 at the Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel in Dubai to support people suffering from arthritis, their families and friends and to raise awareness about the disease in the country . The organization hopes that by increasing visibility of the disease, detection rates will improve, which should lead to faster treatment, which is key to combating the worst effects of the disease. There is also a positive correlation between smoking and arthritis. Smokers of both sexes have been found to be at increased risk of developing seropositive, but not seronegative, RA (rheumatoid arthritis).).) (16).