| Rheumatoid arthritis happens because there is a | | | | 7 Important Facts About Rheumatoid Arthritis |
| problem with the autoimmune system. It affects the | | | | 1 - With Rheumatoid Arthritis, it is an inflammatory type |
| joints causing inflammation to the tissues in and around | | | | and very debilitating. As mentioned above, it's an |
| the joints. | | | | immune system abnormality which tends to attack the |
| You see, we all have antibodies in our body, they are | | | | joints in the body. |
| there to protect our bodies from foreign invaders. But | | | | 2 - Sufferers of Rheumatoid Arthritis are known as |
| when there is a problem, these are upset like with an | | | | seropositive or seronegative. |
| autoimmune problem, they start to attack the it's own | | | | You might be asking how you can tell if you've got |
| tissues. | | | | rheumatoid arthritis, well there's a simple blood test that |
| The joints of the body are where two bones are | | | | can be done. To determine your situation and if you |
| joined with ligaments and muscles so that the joint can | | | | have it or not. |
| move. In Rheumatoid Arthritis, these joints are stiffened | | | | 3 - You will also be able to tell too, because of the |
| due to the inflammation that it causes. | | | | physical symptoms you are probably experiencing. |
| Did you know there are more than 100 forms of | | | | Getting a proper examination by an expert is probably |
| arthritis, well there is. And they all cause ongoing pain | | | | the best thing to do. |
| for the sufferers to millions of people everyday. It is a | | | | 4 - So as you can see there are a number of |
| very debilitating affecting joints of the body. | | | | diagnostic ways you can determine whether or not |
| There is no known cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis, it | | | | you've got this disease or not. There is imaging, the |
| requires a combined approach to handle this disease. | | | | blood test and the physical examination. |
| Things like, medical, social and emotional. There's | | | | As no two cases are the same, and each individual will |
| support groups around that will help you and advise | | | | have different ways of experiencing their pain, how |
| you on what you can do to control your affliction. | | | | the x-rays will show up so the expert will need to look |
| It's a good idea that all concerned be educated about | | | | at the overall picture of the patient. This is needed to |
| this disease, the main focus is to try and stop the pain, | | | | gain a proper and accurate diagnosis. |
| as this can become very acute. The prevention of | | | | 5 - The onset of the pain can start very early in the |
| disformaties should be seriously looked at, as this is the | | | | peace, not long after the disease has started. Damage |
| result of what will happen if left unchecked. | | | | can occure within two years on the start of |
| To get some relief from this awful disease you'll need | | | | Rheumatoid Arthritis. So to start treating this condition |
| to try and reduce the inflammation and get those stiff | | | | it's essential to get this diagnoses as early as possible. |
| joints working again. There are various ways to do | | | | As soon as this is done, the earliest the treatment can |
| this, there is physical and physio, drug therapy and | | | | begin. |
| some even aspire to the natural therapies treatments. | | | | 6 - With over 2.1 million American adults having |
| Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Agents. | | | | Rheumatoid Arthritis, it's no wonder it's such an |
| What these do is help reduce the sever inflammation | | | | epidemic. It is the most common form of inflammatory |
| in the affected area's, thus reducing the pain and | | | | arthritis but the other type is osteoarthritis affects 20 |
| improving mobility. | | | | million Americans, this is lot of people. It usually affects |
| In pregnant women the oboe treatment because none | | | | people between the age of 30-50 years of age, but |
| of these drugs have been proven safe to use during | | | | it's also been known to affect very young people as |
| pregnancy. So you should consult your doctor if you're | | | | well. |
| suffering arthritis and your pregnant. | | | | 7 - For those suffering Rheumatoid Arthritis, there is an |
| All DMARD therapy should be stopped in women | | | | increase of mortality when compared to the rest of |
| planning to conceive and in pregnant and lactating | | | | the population. It has been suggested by the medical |
| women. Evidence of the risks of these agents to the | | | | fraternity that people with Rheumatoid Arthritis and live |
| fetus either exists or cannot be ruled out. | | | | 10-15 years less then their counterparts. |
| Methotrexate, because of evidence of potential | | | | With the new class of arthritis treatment known as |
| teratogencity should be stopped in men and women | | | | biologics, hopefully the situation may become a little |
| planning conception (see above). | | | | better for those sufferers. |