Rheumatoid arthritis

 

Rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the joints. It can affect any joint, but it is most common in fingers and wrists, knees, hips and spine. People who have rheumatoid arthritis may experience pain and swelling at the affected joint(s), stiffness or limited range of motion in their joints(s), loss of strength (which may cause stiffness) over time due to damage to tissues surrounding cartilage surfaces within these joints[1].

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. It's also known as RA or rheumatoid factor positive arthritis (RFPA).

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease that affects other organs of the body such as:

  • Kidneys

  • Liver

  • Lungs * Heart * Spleen

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful disease that can affect any joint in your body. The following are signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis:

  • Morning stiffness. Your joints may feel stiff or sore in the morning, especially after sleeping too much on them during the night. This can happen even if you don't wake up with pain, but it's often more noticeable when you do wake up feeling stiff because the muscles in your body have been used all night long and need some time to relax before being used again.[2]

  • Painful swelling at certain times of day (particularly when bending down). You might notice this as soon as you get out of bed in the morning when moving around turns out to be more difficult than usual.[3] Usually this happens because there is extra fluid buildup under pressure inside each joint capsule due to inflammation and swelling caused by damage brought about by RA over time.[4][5]

Causes of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by a combination of factors that can be identified, such as genetics and environmental factors. Stress, infections and hormonal changes may also play a role in the development of RA.

Other common causes include:

  • Age - As you get older it’s more likely you will develop rheumatoid arthritis.

  • Medications - Some medications used to treat other conditions may increase your risk for developing this condition by causing damage to your joints or causing inflammation in other parts of the body (such as your gut). For example, some medications used to treat high cholesterol levels (statins) have been linked with an increased risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis later on in life because they affect how well white blood cells work together within our bodies – called “lymphocyte-mediated immunity” (LMI).

Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation of the joints, which can affect almost any joint in your body.

You may be asked to take some simple tests to determine whether you have rheumatoid arthritis:

  • If you have symptoms that are typical for rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor will likely ask about them and perform other tests. Your doctor may also order blood tests if there are concerns about anemia or other conditions that could be causing symptoms (such as thyroid problems).

  • If your doctor suspects other types of arthritis or joint pain, he or she may order additional tests such as X-rays and complete blood count (CBC).

Treating rheumatoid arthritis

Most people with rheumatoid arthritis will need to take medications. The most common is methotrexate, which is used in combination with other drugs to stop the immune system from attacking your body and causing damage.

Other medicines can help control pain and swelling, as well as improve your ability to move around more easily. Some drugs are taken on a long-term basis (for example, Celebrex), while others are used only when needed (for example, aspirin).

Physical therapy may be recommended if you have severe symptoms or do not respond well enough with medication alone. It involves exercises designed specifically for people with joint problems such as rheumatoid arthritis so they can strengthen their muscles around joints so they don't become brittle over time due simply being inactive during periods when normal activity isn't possible due being too stiff/weak/painful etc..

Living with rheumatoid arthritis

  • Keep a positive mind.

  • Eat healthy and exercise regularly.

  • Take medications as prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist, or ask for help if you're having trouble swallowing tablets (such as with the drug methotrexate).

  • Seek support from family and friends—they can be great sources of encouragement!

Rheumatoid arthritis can be treated. Regular medications, exercises, and positive mind will help you to live a healthy life.

Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis can include:

  • Medications. Rheumatoid arthritis medications used to treat the disease include NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), corticosteroids and methotrexate. These medicines control pain and swelling caused by joint inflammation. They also minimize damage to the joints’ cartilage by reducing inflammation and protecting it from erosion by other substances in the body such as osteoporosis or aging.

  • Exercise. A healthy lifestyle is important for people with rheumatoid arthritis because regular exercise helps strengthen muscles that support bones, maintain flexibility in joints and improve balance so you're less likely to fall down stairs or get injured on uneven terrain such as sidewalks or curbside parking lots where there isn't much room between parked cars which might cause pressure on soft tissues like tendons/ligaments if someone steps into them unexpectedly causing strain on their body parts leading up towards serious complications like heart failure etc...

Conclusion

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that can cause stiffness, joint pain and damage over time. It can be debilitating if not treated correctly

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