What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

MoreFrom HelloLife

• Safely and quickly starts relieving arthritis symptoms including pain, inflammation, stiffness, swelling and weakness
• Provides safe non-addictive, non-drowsy relief without the negative side effects commonly associated with other arthritis symptom relief medications

Learn more about Rhumatol

There are more than one hundred kinds of arthritis affecting millions of people (1).Most people understand that arthritis affects joints and causes joint pain, and most people realize that arthritis can be crippling.Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the worst kinds or arthritis to have as it can be one of the most debilitating.

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis differs from osteoarthritis because it is not a result of wear and tear on the joints.Rheumatoid arthritis is actually an autoimmune disease.A properly functioning immune system protects the body from disease or infection.Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system mistakenly begins attacking the lining of the joints, called the synovium.

What are the Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis has several symptoms, but those who have it typically have flare-ups of the symptoms.The symptoms can come and go.Some of these symptoms are pain and swelling in the joints, especially those of the hands and feet; pain or stiffness in the joints even after rest; a general malaise; limited motion in those joints; weakness in the muscles surrounding the joints; over time, deformity of those joints; fatigue; loss of appetite and a low-grade fever.

Who is at Risk to Have Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Anyone may get Rheumatoid arthritis.Typically it begins somewhere between the ages of twenty to fifty.Women are two to three times more likely to get it than men (2).Smokers increase their risk.While Rheumatoid arthritis is not inherited, researchers believe that there may be a gene making people more susceptible to it.Some infections seem to cause people to be more at risk also.At this point, there is no cause for Rheumatoid arthritis.

What is the Course of Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Those with Rheumatoid arthritis usually begin with pain in the wrists, hands, knees and feet, and it usually affects both sides of the body at once.Later other areas such as the shoulders, jaw, neck and elbows can become affected.Some people will get painless lumps or nodules, usually at pressure points such as the hands, the elbows, feet, the Achilles tendon and sometimes the scalp.Over time Rheumatoid arthritis can cause deformity in the joints.Rheumatoid arthritis can also cause inflammation in the tear ducts, salivary glands, the lungs, the lining of the heart and lungs and even blood vessels.

What is the Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Unfortunately, right now there is no cure for Rheumatoid arthritis.There are quite a few treatment options to discuss with a doctor.Pain medications that can help with inflammation are helpful, but they do not stop the damage to the joints.Steroids can be used to help with the pain and swelling, but they are a short-term option.There are now anti-rheumatic drugs that can slow the damage to joints, but they take a while to be effective.All of these treatments can have serious side effects, and it is very important to work with the doctor when a person is on any of these treatments.There are also some natural medicines available that work wonders.

References:

(1) http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rheumatoid-arthritis/DS00020/DSECTION=1

(2) http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/articles/876.htm