Rheumatoid Arthritis - A Look At A Worldwide Problem
There are many types of arthritis, but the one we most commonly think of is rheumatoid arthritis. White blood cells usually spend their days attacking bacteria and fighting off viruses, but with this type of arthritis, the white blood cells move from the bloodstream (where they belong) into the membranes surrounding your joints. As a result, there is an inflammation and the release of proteins. Over months or years, the membrane thickens and the released proteins cause damage to neighboring cartilage, ligaments, bones and tendons. Joints can become disfigured, knocked out of alignment or even destroyed.
Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include: joint pain, joint swelling and joints that are tender to the touch. Whether you have red puffy hands, firm bumps of tissue beneath the skin on your arms, or morning stiffness that lasts at least thirty minutes, you may have some level of the disease. Often, sufferers feel tired, lose weight and sense changes in wrists, hands, ankles and feet at first. In later stages, the elbows, shoulders, knees, hips and the jaw and neck can also be affected. Signs and symptoms of pain may flare up and then alternate with periods of relative remission.
Doctors say there are some factors that may increase your risk of rheumatoid arthritis. For instance, women are more likely than men to develop the disease. Most arthritis sufferers are between 40 and 60. While it’s not a disease that you can directly inherit, there may be a predisposition throughout genealogy. Smoking cigarettes and eating too much red meat may also be contributing factors. If you have persistent discomfort and swelling in various joints on both sides of your body, then be sure to see your doctor.
There are many medications that treat rheumatoid arthritis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs/NSAIDs (like ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin and Aleve) can provide pain relief and reduce inflammation. Steroids/Corticosteroid medications (like prednisone and methylprednisolone) reduce swelling and pain, in addition to slowing joint damage. These are intended for short term use only. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs/DMARDs (like Plaquenil, Ridaura, Azulfidine, Dynacin and Rheumatrex) are used to limit joint damage over time. Immuno-suppressants (like Arava, Imuran, Neoral and Cytoxan) are aimed at taming your immune system, which has been disrupted by the disease. TNF-alpha inhibitors (like Enbrel, Remicade or Humira) reduces morning stiffness and tender joints within 1-2 weeks, helping to prevent long term damage. Kineret, Rituximab or Orencia may be prescribed if other treatments fail, as these injected pain management drugs provide stronger medication for chronic pain sufferers, yet also pose greater risks of side effects. Your health care practitioner will assess your unique case and offer the best individualized solution for you.
To learn more go to Arthritis Care and at Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet
What to Do If You Are Diagnosed With Rheumatoid Arthritis ?
For the record, currently about one percent of the total population of the United States suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. Statistics show that there is a marked increase in the number of cases being diagnosed just like all other degenerative diseases. It is therefore important that an understanding of what rheumatoid arthritis is and what the signs are which should be disseminated amongst the population so that sufferers will seek an early diagnosis to enable relevant lifestyle changes be implemented before the symptoms become serious.
Being better informed not only assist in early diagnosis but with n understanding of what the disease is, what is likely to eventuate and what you can do to prepare for these eventuation’s
If you are unlucky and the doctor informs you that you are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, the news can be quite devastating. However, understanding this disease is one way that you could come to terms with it, know what to expect, when and establish a plan of action to control it in the best manner you can.
What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
It is known that when rheumatoid arthritis occurs, the body’s immune system suddenly turns against itself destroying the tissues found in and around the joints. This is why the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis includes extreme pain at the joints, it usually occurs in the joints of the same limb on each side of the body). It is believed that the sufferer’s genetics play an important role in the development of this disease. (Research is currently underway in this area.
The doctor diagnosis the occurrence of this disease by identifying the ‘rheumatoid factor’ in the patient’s blood, (is actually an antibody) that indicates the presence of this debilitating disease. The association of the presence of this antibody and the typical symptoms such as pain, inflammation of the joints and limitation of movement usually confirms the diagnosis. X-ray of the affected joints can also be used to further confirm the existence of the disease.
As rheumatoid arthritis is a serious disease, it is important to get an early diagnosis so that you can have it treated. Rheumatoid arthritis can progress fast attacking not only the joints but also the more vital organs in the body – such as (the lining of) the heart, lungs and kidneys. This disease can also strike in the tear ducts and the salivary glands. Rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any time usually between the ages of 20 to the late 50’s and when it strikes it is very hard to cure.
If you are unlucky and get it, it is not the end of the world. Thankfully, there are medications, proper exercise and alternative treatments all designed to make the disease more manageable and your changed lifestyle as pleasant as possible. Take it as yet another challenge in in the journey of life. Why not use the power of positive thinking, look at all the marvelous blessings you have and will experience and this disease is only another event to be overcome.
A strict regime in relation to your diet and exercise program is necessary to keep your body in good shape whilst ensuring your immune system is operating and keeping all other diseases at bay. allowing your body to cope with the stresses and strains of rheumatoid arthritis.
Information On Arthritis Explained - A Guide
Are you looking for an Arthritis Cure? Arthritis usually means pain in the joints but it is a disease of the muscles and the bones so there could also be swelling and pain all over. Each bone is covered with a living tissue that covers the ends of the bones and guards them from rubbing against each other; this tissue is known as the Cartilage. Cartilage is made of living cells known as chondrocytes and this tissue resembles many of the other human organs. The chondrocytes die, they are replaced with new ones and the life cycle goes on. This article will focus on explaining arthritis versus arthritis cures.
The body can handle only a certain amount of cartilage cell replacement when there is inflammation the cartilage cells need much faster replacement which sometimes cannot be handled by the body. This is especially true if there has been an injury or there are not enough proper nutrients in the body to repair the joint. This condition makes the joints become weak and instable; the joints can also become deformed which hinders day to day tasks. A person suffering from arthritis needs to bring about a change in his day to day living and requires proper medication and physiotherapy. Health care providers use joint replacement surgery as their last resort, once they have tried all of the less intrusive interventions, to try and relieve the discomfort.
Arthritis is mainly categorized into two types, ‘localized’ and ‘generalized’ depending on which areas are affected (body or the joints); they are then sub categorized further. One of the sub-categories is localized conditions which only affect the soft tissue that surrounds the bones or joints, and is used to relate to conditions like tendonitis or bursitis. A sub-category of this affects one or some of the joints like hip or knee joints. In generalized arthritis, the disease affects the soft tissue and muscle where there isn’t any evidence of inflammation or swelling. This condition does not indicate joint damage; a common type in this category is fibromyalgia.
The next condition in the second sub category causes inflammation which affects the whole body. Gout, psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are examples of this condition. Still other generalized situations include polymyositis, involving muscles, systemic lupus erythematosus involving the skin, kidneys and or other organs and vasculitis where any organ is involved.
An individual is capable of having more than just one arthritis type and it includes over one hundred different medical conditions that are known to affect roughly forty six million adults and three hundred thousand children within the United States. As early on as infancy, this condition can begin, even though it is most commonly seen in adults that are over the age of sixty, in the primary form of osteoarthritis. As the American population ages, the number of people suffering with it is increasing.
Arthritis and related illnesses are the cause of major disability in the U.S. and costs over 124 billion dollars a year in medical care and indirect expenses. By taking the time to follow a couple of simple steps, most individuals can help to prevent osteoarthritis: The ability to maintain the appropriate weight and consume fresh vegetables and fruits are a really good source of vitamins D and C. Consumption of calcium is very important, adults must consume about 1000-1500mg calcium every day, exercising daily is a must and one must avoid injuries that may damage the joints.
