Rheumatoid Arthritis : Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
The term Arthritis is formed from two words : 'arth' meaning 'joint' and 'itis' meaning 'inflammed or swollen'.
Thus Arthritis is a disease of one or more joints in which concerned joints become red, warm, swollen and painful.
There are mainly two forms of Arthritis :
1) Rheumatoid Arthritis
2) Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis : Rheumatoid Arthritis occurs throughout the world in all climates.
Females are more affected three times more commonly than males.
In most patients the disease is with pain, stiffness and symmetrical swelling of a number of small joints ( those of fingers, wrists, elbows, ankles and knees).
Initially pain is experienced only on moving the affected joints.
Morning stiffness of joints is also common.
In some cases the small joints of fingers and toes are the first to be affected.
What are the symptoms of Arthritis ?
The symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis usually develop gradually.
The first symptoms are often felt in small joints, such as your fingers and toes, although shoulders and knees can be affected early, and muscle stiffness can be a prominent early feature.
Flare-ups :
The symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis vary from person to person.
They can come and go, and they may change over time.
You will experience flare-ups when your symptoms will be more intense and severe.
Pain :
This is usually a throbbing and aching sort of pain.
It is usually worse in the mornings and after you have been sitting still for a while.
Stiffness :
Joints affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis can feel stiff, especially in the morning.
Warmth and redness :
The lining of the affected joint becomes inflamed, causing the joints to swell, become hot, tender to touch and painful.
Rheumatoid Arthritis can also cause inflammation around the joints.
You might also experience :
1) Fatigue and lack of energy
2) Fever
3) Sweating
4) Poor Appetite
5) Weight Loss
6) Dry Eyes
7) Chest Pain (if the heart or lungs are affected)
If you think you may have the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis, it is important to see a doctor because early diagnosis and correct treatment can reduce the impact of the disease.
If left untreated, Rheumatoid Arthritis may permanently damage joints.
What causes Rheumatoid Arthritis ?
The causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis are unknown, but it is more common in people who smoke or have a family history of this disease.
We know how the condition attacks the joints, but it is not yet known what triggers the initial attack.
Rheumatoid Arthritis can run in families but having a family member with Rheumatoid Arthritis does not necessarily mean that you will inherit the condition.
Even an identical twin of someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis only has a small chance of developing it, so genes do not explain much of the risk.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is 3 times more common in women than in men.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune condition.
Normally, your immune system makes antibodies that attack bacteria and viruses, helping protect your body against infection.
If you have Rheumatoid Arthritis ,your immune system sends antibodies to the lining of your joints, where instead of attacking harmful bacteria, they attack the tissue surrounding the joint.
Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis :
1) Medicines : When symptoms of the disease flare up treatment comprises of physical rest, anti-inflammatory and pain relieving drugs and physiotherapy.
Such treatment usually succeeds in quietening the symptoms.
2) Yoga : Studies show that Rheumatoid Arthritis occurs more commonly in those patients who are usually nervous, tense, worried, depressed and moody.
Yoga is proven remedy for Psychic stress.
Regular practice of specific yogic postures (asanas) provides considerable relief to arthritic patients.
In the beginning patients are reluctant to take up the practice of Yoga in view of their painful joints.
However after being convinced of the utility of Yoga, when they start practicing Yoga they experienced profound relief.
So, this were the some important thing about Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms, causes and treatment.
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