Arthritis is caused by various reasons. The common causes include:

• Wear and tear of cartilage in joints
• Metabolic abnormalities- there is imbalance of many chemical substances in the body
• Infection (Bacterial or Viral)
• Autoimmune disease- the body mistakenly fights its own cells
• Injury

Risk factors include:

• Family history
• Obesity
• Age - increases with age
• Gender - Women are more likely to develop arthritis

If arthritis is left untreated, it can lead to serious complications such as:

• Joint damage: Joint deformities, damage to nearby tendon, etc
• Widespread inflammation: Inflammation can spread to other parts of the body like lungs, heart, and eyes
• Cardiovascular damage: People with rheumatoid arthritis are at higher risk of developing cardio vascular disease