What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

In this condition, the immune cells target the healthy cells and start attacking them. This disorder leads to chronic joint inflammation. These joints get inflamed with swelling and continuous pain. Rheumatoid Arthritis affects the lining of the joints, this affected lining damages the tissue that covers the ends of the bones in a joint. The majorly affected body parts are wrists, hands, elbows, shoulders, feet, spine, knees, and jaw. Different symptoms are observed after getting diagnosed with rheumatoid Arthritis like fatigue, random fevers, and a loss of appetite. If this disease is not treated at the right time, it can cause serious damage to the joints and their surrounding tissue. This disease may result in other health conditions like the heart, lungs, blood, nerves, eyes, and skin. The exact reason for people getting diagnosed with this disease is not known. Women are more prone to this disease in old age as compared to men.

Basic facts to be known about Rheumatoid Arthritis

● According to WHO (World Health Organization), 18 million people worldwide were living with rheumatoid arthritis in 2019 across the world.

● About 70% of women were living with rheumatoid arthritis. Out of which 55% are older than 55 years.

● Around 13 million people with rheumatoid arthritis experience severe symptoms (moderate or severe) that could be treated with rehabilitation.

Signs and symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Symptoms may vary from person to person according to the severity of the disease. The signs of this disease become noticeable to the patient and the doctor. Moreover, the symptoms can only be felt by the patient. Rheumatoid Arthritis is commonly found in the small joints of the hands, wrists, and feet. It is a chronic disorder and may worsen with time if left untreated. It can result in serious damage to the joint and the tissues surrounding the joint. Commonly observed symptoms are mentioned below:

● Feeling exhausted while doing daily activities

● The body temperature rises suddenly, leading to sickness and exhaustion.

● Losing weight without a known cause

● Inflammation leading to swelling in joints

● Stiffness and pain felt first in smaller joints and increases with time.

Factors causing Rheumatoid Arthritis

There are various risk factors present externally and in the human body that can increase the risk of getting diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. In case of genetic changes, a person has no option left other than proper treatment if diagnosed with the disease. Some of the common factors causing Rheumatoid Arthritis are mentioned below:

● Age: A person can get this disease at any age but the risk increases with growing age. Children and young teens may get diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. It is a health disorder related to rheumatoid arthritis.

● Sex: The statistics show that women are more susceptible to getting diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis as compared to men. Researchers stated that reproductive and hormonal factors play a major role in the development of the disease for some women.

● Family history and genetics: In this condition, if any blood relative has Rheumatoid arthritis then there are chances that you are more likely to develop the disease. There are various genetic factors that elevate the chances of getting Rheumatoid arthritis.

● Smoking: If a person is smoking for a long period then the chances of getting rheumatoid arthritis increases. This disease turns out to be more serious when the person continues to smoke after getting this disease.

● Obesity: Uncontrollable weight gain may increase the risk of getting this disease. It also shows how much improvement can be expected in such cases.

● Lung diseases: People who have lung disease are more prone to developing rheumatoid arthritis.

Stages of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis is categorized into stages according to the severity of the disease. There are four stages which are early, moderate, severe, and end stages. Each stage shows different symptoms.

The stages are mentioned below:

STAGE 1: The inflammation has started around the joints and tissue around the joints. A person may observe no destructive changes after getting an X-ray. There may be some pain and stiffness in joints.

STAGE 2: In this stage, cartilage in the joints is damaged due to inflammation. It's quite difficult to move those particular inflamed joints. A person may observe symptoms till this stage only.

STAGE 3: The bones are damaged and the inflammation is acute in this stage. A person with Rheumatoid Arthritis experiences more pain, stiffness, and movement of inflamed joints is less than stage 2. Some physical changes like thickened knuckles and twisted fingers are also observed in this stage.

STAGE 4: The inflammation has stopped in this stage but the condition of joints continues to degrade. A person may also observe severe pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of mobility.

Methods used in the detection of Rheumatoid Arthritis

The signs and symptoms observed in rheumatoid arthritis are identical to other joint-related disorders. Due to this situation, the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is difficult in the early stages. If you experience any of the symptoms, consult a doctor as soon as possible. A person should get all his tests done within 6 months of observing symptoms. Some of the confirmatory tests for rheumatoid arthritis are mentioned below:

● Physical Examination: The doctor looks for any kind of swelling, and redness in the joints. He also checks for muscle strength and reflexes.

● Imaging tests: X-ray and MRI are some imaging tests that can scan the joints inflamed because of the disease. These scans help to diagnose the inflammation of the joints and the damage. With the help of these tests, the type of arthritis and progression of the disease can be identified.

● Blood tests: These tests help to measure the inflammation level of the erythrocyte, any condition mimicking rheumatoid arthritis. It also helps to check for antibodies like rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) that are often present in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Ways to prevent Rheumatoid Arthritis

Various genetic and external factors are responsible for causing rheumatoid arthritis. When it comes to genetic factors, they are inevitable. Working on the lifestyle can help to improve the condition. Common preventive ways are:

● Eating a balanced diet: The diet should consist of anti-inflammatory foods, and macro and micronutrients. Add fiber and vitamin-rich foods to help fight inflammation in the joints.

● Stop smoking: This can protect your health from overall damage. Smoking not only increases the risk of rheumatoid arthritis but also of other deadly diseases like cancer. Take the help of your family, friends, and counselors to motivate you to quit smoking.

● High BMI (Body Mass Index): Overweight people experience faster growth of any disease. They experience more pain, and difficulty moving. Obese people have higher chances of getting detected with other diseases along with rheumatoid arthritis. Go for walks, do yoga, and other physical activities. Try to reduce weight so that your body weight exerts less pressure on the joints.

● Take help: If you experience any signs or symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, consult your doctor immediately. The symptoms can be pain, tenderness, or swelling in the small joints of the hands and feet. Going to the doctor on time can help save the damage to joints.

Treatment methods for Rheumatoid Arthritis

There is no permanent cure for rheumatoid arthritis. Detection of this in early stages can help in choosing the right treatment to reduce the symptoms. Some prescription-based medicines directly work in slowing down the growth of the disease and prevent them from damage like Tofajak 5mg tablet. This medicine is available at great discounts on Magicine Pharma. Great offers can be availed when ordering from this online pharmacy.

FAQs

1. What is the main reason for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis is the result of the immune system attacking healthy cells in the body. It is an autoimmune disorder.

2. Is it possible to live a normal life with Rheumatoid Arthritis?

We can live a normal life with Rheumatoid Arthritis with the help of therapy and prescribed treatment by the doctor.

3. Can Rheumatoid Arthritis be cured permanently?

No, It is not possible to cure rheumatoid Arthritis permanently. The symptoms of the disease can be reduced with the help of treatment.

4. Is there any deficiency that can cause Rheumatoid Arthritis?

People diagnosed with Vitamin D deficiency are more prone to getting rheumatoid Arthritis.

5. What are the best treatment options for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

It is not possible to cure rheumatoid arthritis permanently. Lifestyle changes, medication, and supportive therapies can help to a great extent.

References

https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/rheumatoid-arthritis

https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/rheumatoid-arthritis

https://versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/

https://www.who.int/newsroom/factsheets/detail/rheumatoidarthritis#:~:text=In%202019%2C%2018%20million%20people,Overview

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