Information about Rheumatoid Arthritis

What is Rheumatoid arthritis

rheumatoid arthritis
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Do you know about rheumatoid arthritis (RA) ? It is a long-term disease that leads to inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. It is dangerous disease and can affect other organs. It can affect any joint but is common in the finger and wrist.

Cause of Rheumatoid arthritis

The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is still unknown. It can occur to anybody at any age but mostly for middle age women. Genes, infection and hormones changes may be linked to the disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and signs

There’s some symptoms and signs of rheumatoid arthritis such as :-

  • Painful and swollen joints, especially in your hands, feet and knees
  • Difficulty moving joints
  • Stiffness and pain in affected joints (especially after sleeping)
  • Fever
  • Red, puffy hands
  • Fatigue
  • Hard bumps (called rheumatoid nodules) just under the skin near the joints
  • Loss of appetite

The disease might effect for only a short time or the symptoms might come and go. Some of them can last a lifetime.

Rheumatoid arthritis treatment

There’s a prescription in the market that you can buy such as ibuprofen, aspirin, ketoprofen, or naproxen, or relieve pain such as acetaminophen. It can help you feel better. These medicines will reduce pain and swelling but not slow the damage to the joint. You need to use the medicines wisely. Using too much medicine may increase the risk of side effects.

Doctor may prescribe steroid if you have a few sore joints. Steroids will reduce pain and swelling and slow damage to the joints. Steroids can’t be used for long time because it could cause side effect such as easy bruising, cataracts, bone thinning and diabetes.

Antirheumatic is a medicine that can help fight rheumatoid arthristis if started in early phase. It work slowly and you can feel it after a few week. Doctor may do a blood test to ensure the medicine is suitable for your body. Pregnant women should not taken this kind of medicine.

Surgery is the last option if all the medicine not works for you. Using surgery, you can regain joint movement, ease pain and correct deformities caused by this disease.

What to do if have rheumatoid arthritis ?

You can do mild water aerobics or walking are good exercises to cure this disease. Losing weight also can help to reduce pain from rheumatoid arthritis.

What rheumatoid arthritis can cause ?

It can cause other health problem. Your hands may become twisted(deformed) or bent. Your lung and heart also occur problem.

What Research Is Being Done on Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Research is being done in many areas:

  • Immune systems
  • Genes
  • Families with rheumatoid arthritis
  • New drugs or drug combinations
  • Rheumatoid arthritis and disability
  • Preventing related health problems
  • Quality of life for people with rheumatoid arthritis.

 

 

Reference :-  US National Library of Medicine

NIH

Familydoctor

 

 

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