| oting pain in the knee. A burning sensation in the hand. | | | | rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms are felt. Symptoms |
| Before you know it, you have rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | may include fatigue, lack of appetite, low grade fever, |
| Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation of the | | | | and muscles and joint aches. Muscles and joint |
| joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in | | | | stiffness are usually felt during mornings and after a |
| which the immune system attacks normal tissues as if | | | | period of inactivity. During relapses (from inactivity to |
| they were invading antibodies. Rheumatoid arthritis also | | | | activity) of rheumatoid arthritis, joints become red, |
| causes inflammation of the tissues around the joints | | | | swollen, painful, and tender. This happens because the |
| and other organs of the body. The hands and feet are | | | | tissue lining of the joints become inflamed which results |
| the most affected areas of rheumatoid arthritis | | | | in the excess production of joint fluids. |
| although it can also affect any joint lined by a | | | | Multiple joints are usually inflamed in symmetrical |
| membrane. Rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a | | | | pattern and the joints of both hands and wrists are |
| systematic illness and sometimes called rheumatoid | | | | often affected. Simple tasks such as turning the door |
| disease. | | | | knob and opening the jars can be painful. Rheumatoid |
| Rheumatoid arthritis manifests itself over a period of a | | | | arthritis can also affect the joint responsible for the |
| few months. However, for some, the disease appears | | | | tightening of vocal cords to change the tone of the |
| overnight. Accelerated onset of rheumatoid arthritis | | | | voice although rarely. But when this happens, it can |
| does not mean the individual is at greater risk of the | | | | cause hoarseness of the voice. |
| progression of the disease. Rheumatoid arthritis can | | | | As mentioned before, rheumatoid arthritis is a |
| lasts for years without symptoms. But rheumatoid | | | | systematic disease which can affect organs and |
| arthritis is an illness that progresses and has the | | | | areas of the body other than the joints. Sjorgen's |
| potential to cause joint destrution and functional | | | | syndrome is the inflammation of the glands of the |
| disability. Usually, patients suffer cycles from severe to | | | | eyes and mouth which causes dryness. Rheumatoid |
| light symptoms. In terms of statistics, rheumatoid | | | | inflammation of the lung lining can cause chest pains |
| arthritis is three times more common in women than in | | | | because the lung tissue itself is inflamed and nodules |
| men. It also besets people of all races equally. | | | | of inflammation also develop within the lungs. |
| Rheumatoid arthritis can begin at any age but most | | | | Rheumatoid arthritis can also reduce the number of |
| often start in the early forties. | | | | red blood cells which can result to anemia and white |
| What causes rheumatoid arthritis? The truth is, its | | | | blood cells which can result to increase risk of |
| cause is still unknown. Viruses, bacteria, and fungi have | | | | infections. A rare, serious complication of rheumatoid |
| long been suspected but none has been proven to be | | | | arthritis is blood vessel inflammation which can impair |
| the cause. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis has been | | | | blood supply to tissues and lead to death of tissues. |
| the focus of different research activities. There are | | | | A rheumatologist is a doctor who specializes in arthritis |
| some scientists who believe that the tendency to | | | | and other related diseases. The rheumatologist |
| develop rheumatoid arthritis may be genetically | | | | reviews the history of symptoms, examines the joints, |
| inherited while others believe that certain factors in the | | | | and the other parts of the body for the inflammation. |
| environment might elicit the immune system to attack | | | | The diagnosis is usually based on the pattern of |
| the body's own tissue components. This attack results | | | | symptoms, the distribution of the inflamed joints, and |
| to the inflammation in various organs such as lungs or | | | | the blood and x-rays obtained. |
| eyes. | | | | Until now, there is no known cure for rheumatoid |
| Researchers have also found that environmental | | | | arthritis. Reducing joint inflammation and pain, |
| factors may also play a role in the cause of | | | | maximizing joint function, and preventing joint |
| rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, scientists reported that | | | | destruction is the current goal in treating rheumatoid |
| smoking tobacco increases risk in the development of | | | | arthritis. Early medical intervention has been found to |
| rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | improve outcomes in treatment. Optimal treatment |
| The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis depend on the | | | | includes combination of medications, joint strengthening |
| degree of tissue inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis is | | | | exercises, joint protection, and patient education. |
| said to be active if the body tissues are inflammed. | | | | Treatment is customized according to many factors |
| When the tissue inflammation subsides, rheumatoid | | | | such as disease activity, types of joints involved, |
| arthritis is said to be in remission. Remissions may | | | | general health, age, and occupation. But treatment is |
| happen spontaneously or with treatment and can last | | | | most successful when there is close cooperation |
| for weeks, months, even years. During active | | | | between the doctor and the patient. |