Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disease whose symptoms include chronic inflammation or swelling of the joints. In the long term, it can lead to joint damage, pain, stiffness and problems with mobility. Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic disease. That means that it may never go away. According to the Arthritis Foundation, it is also a systemic disease which means that Rheumatoid Arthritis can affect other systems or organs in your body. It is a very serious disease which needs early diagnosis and treatment in order to help you continue living as normally as possible.
The cause of Rheumatoid Arthritis is still unknown. What is known is that people with this disease have an abnormal immune system. People with Rheumatoid Arthritis have immune systems that think that healthy joint tissue is a foreign body and the person’s own immune system attacks the joint. It is still a disease that has no cure. Rheumatoid Arthritis is treated in ways designed to preserve mobility and reduce pain and inflammation.
Most sufferers will first notice rheumatoid arthritis in the smaller joints of their hands and wrists, beginning with warmness around the joints or stiffness and inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis affects both sides of the body equally, so if your right hand is affect then your left will be as well. Oftentimes after it begins to affect the smaller joints of the body it will then progress to the larger joints of the hips and knees.
A small percentage of the population is affected by this disease. According to the Arthritis Foundation, about 70% of the victims of the disease are women who first experience symptoms between the ages of 30 to 50 years. Although not common, this disease can also occur in children affecting girls more often than boys.
Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis is custom tailored to each individual. Treatment takes into account the severity of the arthritis, current mobility, pain levels and swelling, your personal lifestyle and other factors. Treatments will be adjusted during the course of your disease to best preserve your lifestyle and mobility. Your treatment may include a combination of anti-inflammatory medications, pain killers, anti-rheumatic drugs, and immune system drugs. Treatment may also include physical and occupational therapy to help you preserve joint mobility. Surgical intervention may be needed when joint damage is severe.
No matter who you are, if you feel the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis such as warmth and inflammation in the joints in the hands, you should see your doctor immediately. Diagnosing and treating rheumatoid arthritis early will increase your chances of slowing down the disease and leading a normal, healthy life.