-
What
Is It?
- Symptoms
- What causes rheumatoid arthritis
- Effects
- Diagnoses
- Rheumatoid arthritis and treatment
- The
Natural Approach
- Who is at risk?
- Resources and suggestions
What
Is It?
Rheumatoid
arthritis (rue-ma-TOYD arth-write-tis) involves inflammation in the
lining of the joints and/or other internal organs. RA typically affects
many different joints. It can be chronic, which means it lasts a long
time, and can be a disease of flares (active) and remissions (little to
no activity).
RA
is a systemic disease that affects the entire body and is one of the
most common forms of arthritis. It is characterized by the inflammation
of the membrane lining the joint, which causes pain, stiffness, warmth,
redness and swelling. The inflamed joint lining, the synovium, can
invade and damage bone and cartilage. Inflammatory cells release enzymes
that may digest bone and cartilage. The involved joint can lose its
shape and alignment, resulting in pain and loss of movement.
Symptoms?
Symptoms
include inflammation of joints, swelling, difficulty moving and pain.
Other symptoms include:
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Loss of energy
- Anemia
- Sometimes rheumatoid nodules (lumps of tissue under the skin)
- Can affect other parts of the body.
What causes rheumatoid arthritis
The
cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not yet known. However, it is known
that RA is an autoimmune disease. The body's natural immune system does
not operate as it should, resulting in the immune system attacking
healthy joint tissue and causing inflammation and subsequent joint
damage.
Researchers
suspect that agent-like viruses may trigger RA in some people who have
an inherited tendency for the disease. Many people with RA have a
certain genetic marker called HLA-DR4. Researchers know that there are
other genes that influence the development of RA.
Effects?
Early
in the disease, people may notice general fatigue, soreness, stiffness
and aching. Pain and swelling may occur in the same joints on both sides
of the body and will usually start in the hands or feet. RA affects the
wrist and many of the hand joints, but usually not the joints that are
closest to the fingernails (except the thumb). RA also can affect
elbows, shoulders, neck, knees, hips and ankles. It tends to persist
over prolonged periods of time, and over time, inflamed joints may
become damaged. Other features include lumps, called rheumatoid nodules,
under the skin in areas that receive pressure, such as the back of the
elbows.
How
Is It Diagnosed?
It
is important to diagnose RA early in the course of the disease, because
with the use of disease-modifying drugs, the condition can be controlled
in many cases. Physicians diagnose RA based on the overall pattern of
symptoms, medical history, physical exam, X-rays and lab tests including
a test for rheumatoid factor. Av symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is an antibody found in
the blood of about 80 percent of adults with RA. However, the presence
or absence of rheumatoid factor does not indicate that one has RA.
Rheumatoid
Arthritis And Treatment
Treatment
of rheumatoid arthritis focuses on reducing swelling, relieving pain and
stiffness, reducing inflammation and maintaining normal joint function.
In patients with RA, the early use of disease-modifying drugs may allow
control of the disease. There are two types of rheumatoid arthritis medication
used:
- Symptomatic medications such as NSAIDs and aspirin, analgesics,
and glucocorticoids, help reduce joint pain, stiffness and swelling.
These drugs may be used in combination.
- Disease-modifying medications include low doses of prednisone,
methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine (and other antimalarials),
azulfidine, gold salts and cyclosporine, sulfasalazine, D-Penicillamine,
cyclophosphamide, azathioprine and minocycline
The
Natural Approach
There is no miracle cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but some people find
Glucosamine and Chondroitin to be extremely helpful.
Numerous studies suggest that supplementation of the specific
nutrients in GLUCOSAMINE COMPLEX may be of value to individuals
concerned about maintaining normal healthy cartilage and related
connective tissue in their joints and throughout the body, especially in
the knees, elbows and fingers. Glucosamine has become one of the most
popular supplements ever. It is known to help maintain healthy cartilage
levels helping joints to remain comfortable, stay lubricated and
flexible.
Who
Is At Risk?
- Rheumatoid arthritis affects 2.1 million Americans, mostly women
- Onset is usually in middle-age, but often occurs in the 20s and
30s
- 1.5 million women have rheumatoid arthritis compared to 600,000
men
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