What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis involves inflammation of the lining of the joints and / or other internal organs .. It affects many different joints and usually chronic, meaning long, and can be a disease flare-ups. Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease that affects the entire body and is one of the most common forms of arthritis It is characterized by inflammation of the lining of the joints, which causes pain, stiffness, warmth, redness and swelling. Involved joints can lose their shape and alignment, resulting in pain and loss of movement.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Cause :
The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. However, it is known that rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease natural immune system does not operate properly, so that the immune system attacks healthy joint tissue and causes inflammation and subsequent joint damage.
The researchers suspect that an agent such as a virus can trigger rheumatoid arthritis in some people who have a tendency to inherit the disease. Many people with rheumatoid arthritis have a specific genetic marker called HLA-DR4. Researchers know that there are other genes that influence the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
What are the symptoms?
Starters rheumatoid arthritis brings fatigue, pain, stiffness, pain, and pain and swelling in the joints bilaterally isolated. Rheumatoid arthritis usually begins in the hands or feet and will also affect the wrist, a few joints in the hand. Rheumatoid arthritis is also found on the elbows, shoulders, neck, knees, hips and ankles. Over time, arthritis can be damaged and lead to other features such as lumps or nodules under the skin.
Who Is At Risk ?
Rheumatoid arthritis affects more than 2 million Americans with more than 1 million women compared to just over half a million people, though this is generally the beginning of middle age, more common in the elderly. Rheumatoid arthritis has also been found in children and young adults.
Diagnosis & Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
In many cases, early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis can better control this disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed with a pattern of symptoms, medical history, physical examination, x-rays and blood tests for rheumatoid factor, which is an antibody found in the blood of 80% of adults with rheumatoid arthritis.
Currently, there are few effective drugs for rheumatoid arthritis. Early treatment is essential to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, slow down joint damage and hopefully capture the joint damage. Early treatment also helps patients rheumatoid arthritis enjoy better quality of life.
