| A serious disease of the autoimmune system, | | | | Purpura is another skin condition regularly associated |
| rheumatoid arthritis mostly affects the joints. | | | | with rheumatoid arthritis. Purpura are purplish patches |
| Nonetheless, since it is a systemic autoimmune | | | | on the skin which develop due to damage to blood |
| disease, rheumatoid arthritis may also affect other | | | | vessels. Rheumatoid arthritis can make blood vessels |
| body areas. Here are some of the other symptoms | | | | develop damage, triggering them to rupture and bleed |
| that can be linked with a diagnosis of rheumatoid | | | | into the skin, a process known as vasculitis. Another |
| arthritis. | | | | skin problem associated with rheumatoid arthritis are |
| Heart | | | | skin ulcers; they appear because of vasculitic lesions. |
| One area that may be unfavorably affected due to | | | | Musculature |
| rheumatoid arthritis is the heart. It is common for fluid to | | | | Rheumatoid arthritis can severely affect the body's |
| collect near the heart as a result of inflammation | | | | musculoskeletal structures. As inflammation strikes the |
| caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Although such | | | | joints, muscles can become shrunken and weak. This |
| symptoms are frequently fairly mild, this problem may | | | | is called as atrophy. The hands are the area most |
| potentially develop into something more serious. | | | | vulnerable to atrophy. |
| If severe inflammation occurs, it can affect the heart | | | | Atrophy is the result of not using a muscle or set of |
| muscle. Coronary arteries may swell, making the heart | | | | muscles for an extensive period of time. Muscles joints |
| muscle work harder. The lungs might also be involved | | | | affected by arthritis are prone to becoming the source |
| in rheumatoid arthritis. Similar to the heart muscle, fluid | | | | of discomfort, pain, and swelling. In turn, the patient |
| may collect around the lungs, and the lung tissue may | | | | does not use the stricken muscles, and this causes |
| stiffen. Rheumatoid arthritis related inflammation can | | | | atrophy. |
| make breathing difficult. | | | | Gastrointestinal |
| Skin | | | | The digestive tract is also affected. The most |
| It is not uncommon for rheumatoid arthritis patients to | | | | common effect is known as dry mouth, which is |
| report small nodules that are formed under the | | | | related to Sjogren's syndrome. Most digestive |
| epidermis, as one other area that may be affected is | | | | complaints associated with rheumatoid arthritis seem |
| the skin. The majority of the time, these small nodules | | | | to come as a result of medications taken for it. Typical |
| are located in close proximity to a joint area. These | | | | digestive conditions related to these medications |
| skin nodules become most noticeable when a joint is | | | | comprise stomach ulcers and gastritis. |
| flexed. | | | | |