| people today suffer from a type of arthritis known as | | | | 3.The cells release enzymes in Stage 3 that eat into |
| rheumatoid arthritis. Statistics show that as many as 2.1 | | | | the bone and cartilage. This can cause the joint to be |
| million Americans (or one percent of the population) | | | | misshaped, causing further pain and loss of function. |
| suffer from this disease. About three times as many | | | | Getting an early diagnosis for rheumatoid arthritis |
| women as men are affected by rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | allows for a good prognosis for living a productive life. |
| There is no cure for this disease, which causes an | | | | When diagnosed early, doctors can prescribe an |
| inflammation of the lining (also known as the synovium) | | | | aggressive treatment therapy that can limit the |
| of the joints. However, a combination of exercise, joint | | | | damage done to joints. This will give you better |
| protection techniques, self-management techniques, | | | | function of the joints affected and help avoid later |
| and medication can help rheumatoid arthritis suffers | | | | medical costs and loss of movement. Studies show |
| lead a happier and healthier life. | | | | that just 24 months of undiagnosed rheumatoid arthritis |
| When the joint lining becomes inflamed because of | | | | can do serious damage to the joints. |
| rheumatoid arthritis, it can cause pain, swelling, and | | | | Doctors are not certain what causes rheumatoid |
| stiffness. Because of those symptoms, people may | | | | arthritis. It is, however, an autoimmune disease. This |
| lose function of the area affected. Rheumatoid arthritis | | | | means the body’s immune system does not |
| usually affects the small joints of the feet and hands | | | | act as it should, but rather attacks the joint tissues. |
| first. Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect glands (such | | | | Doctors believe that rheumatoid arthritis can be |
| as the tear and salivary) and the lining of the heart and | | | | hereditary, meaning it runs in families. Scientists have |
| lungs. Symptoms include joint pain, swelling, warmth, | | | | pinpointed genes found in the immune system that |
| stiffness, and overall fatigue. Joints may feel tender | | | | may determine whether you have rheumatoid arthritis, |
| and you may even run a small fever. Stiffness in the | | | | but sometimes people who have those genes never |
| joints often lasts more than 30 minutes after waking in | | | | develop rheumatoid arthritis. |
| the morning. Because of the pain and discomfort, | | | | There are many steps to diagnosing someone with |
| people with rheumatoid arthritis may also have trouble | | | | rheumatoid arthritis. The doctor will look at your medical |
| sleeping. Symptoms may also be worse when getting | | | | history. He will ask questions such as “Do you |
| up after resting. | | | | have stiffness in the morning?” and |
| About 25% of those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis | | | | “When is the pain most severe?” |
| will develop small bumps under the skin. These bumps, | | | | Based on the series of questions, the doctor may be |
| known as rheumatoid nodules, are not normally painful. | | | | able to determine if you have rheumatoid arthritis, but |
| They may develop at the elbow, back of the scalp, or | | | | he may also rely on the results from a physical exam. |
| on the knees, hands, feet, or heels. The size of the | | | | The physical exam may show joint swelling, loss of |
| nodules can range from pea size to that of a walnut. | | | | motion, and misalignment. |
| Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms can come and go in | | | | He may also order lab tests such as a blood count, |
| severity. Increased activity in the symptoms is known | | | | erythrocyte sedimentation rate, c-reactive protein, |
| as flares or flare-ups. During these times, the disease | | | | rheumatoid factor, and antinuclear antibodies. He may |
| is more active. This can lead to joint damage that | | | | order x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), an |
| often results in disability. Those with severe cases of | | | | ultrasound of the joints, and a bone densitometry study |
| rheumatoid arthritis can have active periods that last | | | | (DEXA). Using all these tools, the doctor should be able |
| for years. | | | | to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis then develop a |
| Rheumatoid arthritis consists of three stages: | | | | management plan. |
| 1.Stage 1 involves the swelling of the lining, which | | | | Rheumatoid arthritis can be a debilitating disease, but |
| causes pain, warmth, and stiffness around the joint. | | | | today more than ever, there are treatments and |
| 2.In Stage 2, the cells of the lining rapidly grow and | | | | medication that can make living with the disease much |
| divide, causing the lining to thicken. | | | | easier. |