Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can cause chronic and painful inflammation of the joints.  It may also cause inflammation of the tissues that surround the joints and even the tissues of bodily organs and the tissues that surround them.  In patients who have rheumatoid arthritis their immune system has attacked the affected tissues, mistaking them for invaders to the body that need to be done away with.  Because rheumatoid arthritis is caused by the immune system malfunctioning, it is also known as rheumatoid disease.

Experts do not know for certain what causes rheumatoid arthritis in some people but not in others.  For many years researchers have believed that viruses or even bacteria was to blame for triggering the disease, but this has never been proven with any certainty.  Others believe that the environment or even stress may trigger the disease or for the immune system to react in a specific manner.  It is known that those who smoke tobacco cigarettes are at an increased risk of developing the disease as are those who have a family history of rheumatoid arthritis.

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are different in every patient.  What can be frustrating for those who suffer from this disease is that the symptoms come and go.  The disease may be constant for some time and then suddenly go into remission for days, weeks, months, or even years.  Those who are not going through a flare up of rheumatoid arthritis often have no symptoms.  When the disease flares up patients often experience fatigue, lack of appetite, muscle and joint pain, fever, lack of energy, and stiffness of the muscles and joints.  The stiffness in the muscle and joints is usually the most bothersome symptoms, although the red and swollen joints can become quite tender.

Rheumatoid arthritis needs to be diagnosed by a qualified doctor, often a rheumatologist.  The doctor will look for where the inflammation is taking place and will specifically be looking for inflammation in the hands, feet, wrists, and knees and this inflammation is usually found on both sides of the body simultaneously.  Rheumatoid arthritis nodules can be found on the elbows and fingers and is usually enough to confirm the diagnosis when combined with symptoms.  Doctors can also confirm the diagnosis through a blood test that looks for antibodies that are specific to those who have the disease.

Luckily, there are treatments for rheumatoid arthritis that will allow most patients to continue to live an active and pain free life.  There are first line drugs that are used to reduce the pain and inflammation.  Then there are slow acting drugs that will help the disease go into remission and will also prevent the destruction of the joints.  While the disease cannot be cured, when patients receive a combination of these two types of medications, they will usually experience significant relief from symptoms.  Luckily, most of these medications have very little in the way of negative side effects.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can cause swelling and inflammation of the joints. This type of arthritis does not only cause inflammation of the joints, but can also cause swelling of the tissues that are around the joints, in addition to swelling in the actual organs of the body.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is one of many autoimmune diseases, which is an illness where parts of the body are attacked by its own immune system. The immune system is designed to seek and destroy invaders to the body, but in some people the body sees its own tissues as invaders and so it attacks itself. Rheumatoid arthritis is considered a systemic condition, meaning it can affect all areas of the body, even the internal organs.

The symptoms of the disease are often overlooked or mimic other types of arthritis, so it is important that doctors and patients work together closely to see the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms for what they really are. Some of the more common rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include but are not limited to:

● Fatigue
● Loss of energy
● Stiffness
● Aching joints
● Muscle aches
● Low grade fever
● Lack of appetite
● Red, swollen joints
● Tender joints
● Symmetrical inflammation of joints

Much of the issue with rheumatoid arthritis symptoms is that they come and go. When they come it is known as a flare when and when they are gone it is known as remission. Remission can occur any time and may feel well for weeks, months, and even years where they do not have any symptoms. If remission occurs, many patients and even doctors will write off the symptoms, that is, until the next flare. Patients should keep track of their symptoms so that they can get a proper diagnosis and help to avoid further joint damage.