| Rheumatoid Arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune disorder, | | | | arthritis. Add salmon or albacore tuna to your diet, or |
| causing your immune system to attack the joints, | | | | try an Omega-3 supplement. |
| causing a painful inflammation. Unlike other forms of | | | | Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs, known as |
| arthritis like osteoarthritis, RA also attacks the organs | | | | DMARDs, are slow-acting and may take weeks to |
| like the heart, eyes and lungs. Of the 100+ forms of | | | | take effect. While NSAIDs are effective in relieving |
| arthritis, this is one of the most debilitating varieties. | | | | pain short term, DMARDs are a long term treatment |
| Rheumatoid Arthritis affects 1 out of 100 North | | | | meant to reduce damage to the joint and bone. |
| Americans, or 2.1 million people, and women are three | | | | Methotrexate is the most widely used DMARD. |
| times more likely to get the disease than men. The | | | | Biologic Response Modifiers are a third medication for |
| cause of RA is unknown, but a popular theory points | | | | RA sufferers, although it is extremely cost prohibitive, |
| to the disease being infectious as those who have | | | | costing upwards of $25,000 a year and is rarely |
| close friends or family with the disorder are more likely | | | | covered by insurance. Biologic Response Modifiers, |
| to develop it themselves. Susceptibility to the disease | | | | called Biologics for short, work by decreasing |
| may also be an inherited trait as well. | | | | inflammation. They are usually paired with other |
| Early detection is vital in treating RA because the most | | | | medication. |
| damage is done within the first two years, with 75% of | | | | There are a number of things you can do yourself to |
| the damage occurring within the first five years. While | | | | make living with the disease easier. While it is tempting |
| there is no cure or preventative measure for | | | | to put as little exertion on your sore joints as possible, |
| rheumatoid arthritis, there are a number of treatments | | | | keeping active is essential to enjoying life with |
| to alleviate symptoms. Each type of drug includes its | | | | rheumatoid arthritis. This is for a number of reasons. |
| own side effects- make sure that you are informed | | | | The first is that regular exercise strengthens the |
| about the medication you are taking, and report any | | | | muscles around the joint and increases flexibility. Try |
| side effects to your doctor. | | | | low-impact activities, like swimming. Try not to partake |
| Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, or NSAIDs, | | | | in any activities that involve too much exertion, which |
| reduce the pain and swelling of the joints. Many can be | | | | causes more harm than good. Use heat and cold to |
| had without a prescription, like acetylsalicylic acid and | | | | your advantage, easing pain. Heat should be applied |
| ibuprofen. In more severe cases your doctor can | | | | only when the joint is not inflamed, and preferably in |
| prescribe a stronger NSAID. Omega-3, found in fatty | | | | the form of a bath or hot shower. Use cold packs on |
| fish, also works to shorten the period of stiffness in the | | | | the inflamed joint directly or after strenuous use of the |
| morning, one of the major symptoms of rheumatoid | | | | joint. |