| Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that | | | | The warning signs of arthritis are manifold. They keep |
| affects many tissues and organs like the joints | | | | coming and going depending on the degree of tissue |
| commonly known as synovial. Autoimmune diseases | | | | irritation. While active, the symptoms can include joint |
| can be described as illnesses that occur when the | | | | pains, muscle aches, tautness, fatigue, low-grade fever |
| body's tissues are wrongly attacked by their own | | | | and decrease in appetite. Stillness and sluggishness |
| immune system. Rheumatoid arthritis is also classified | | | | make the joints and muscles stiff and this become |
| as a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that | | | | very much apparent in the mornings after long hours |
| causes swelling of the tissue around the joints. | | | | of sleep. |
| Medically, this disease invariably leads to the | | | | Until now, there is no known cure yet for rheumatoid |
| destruction of articular cartilage and ankylosis of the | | | | arthritis. For patients suffering from it, the object of the |
| joints. | | | | treatment focuses mainly on reducing swelling of the |
| It can result in a series of disorders like diffuse | | | | joints and the pain, maximizing the joint function, and |
| inflammation in the lungs, sclera, pleura and pericardium. | | | | preventing damage on the joints. Individuals undergo |
| Nodular lesions, most common in subcutaneous tissue | | | | customized treatment for rheumatoid arthritis that |
| under the skin, are also known to be associated with | | | | would be dependent on many factors such as disease |
| rheumatoid arthritis. Why rheumatoid arthritis occurs | | | | activity, patient's occupation, types of joints involved, |
| and its root causes are yet to be unraveled. However, | | | | age and general health. |
| becoming immune to itself (tissues and cells) is said to | | | | These days numerous treatment options are available |
| to play a leading role in both its development. | | | | for arthritis rheumatoid. Anti rheumatic drugs are |
| Even while infectious agents like the types of fungi, | | | | necessary to slow down or completely stop the basic |
| viruses and bacteria have long been suspected for | | | | immune process and prevent any long-term damage. |
| long, the fact is none has been proven as the cause | | | | Anti-inflammatory drugs, including steroids, are used to |
| so far and the real cause is yet to be unraveled. At | | | | suppress the symptoms in less severe cases. |
| the same time, is has also been suspected that certain | | | | Analgesic drugs can also be used to relieve pain. |
| environmental contamination or causes trigger the | | | | Other ways to treat rheumatoid arthritis includes |
| activation of the immune system in individuals who are | | | | occupational and physical therapy, orthoses, and |
| at risk. | | | | ensuring proper diet for the patient. |