Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms:

The common symptoms that you would note in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are:

4 Pain in the joints.
4 Swelling of the joints or effusion.
4 Stiffness of the joints.
4 Redness and warmth and the affected joint/s.
4 Limited motion range.

Pain in the joints is one of the early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Morning stiffness is also a potential symptom and it lasts for more than one hour, you should know that the condition is serious. Sometimes, the small bones of either the hands or the feet or both might also be affected. Rheumatoid arthritis also leads to extreme fatigue, symmetrical involvement of joints, which means both your knees would be affected and not just one and also rheumatoid nodules. These are some of the basic rheumatoid arthritis characteristics.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis:

Rheumatoid arthritis cannot be diagnosed by one single test; the process of diagnosis usually involves a series of lab tests including X-rays and other such diagnosis tools. A combined test result, a thorough clinical examination and finally the medical history of the patient altogether would lead to the proper diagnosis and determination of rheumatoid arthritis.

Some of the commonly conducted lab tests are:

æ Diagnosis of the Rheumatoid factor (RA or RF)
æ C-reactive protein test.
æ Erythrocyte sedimentation rate test.
æ Anti-CCP test.

However, MRIs and X-rays are done much before the above mentioned test and also during the process of diagnosis to have a proper knowledge of the state of the joint/s.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment:

Arthritis medicines are primarily used for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Every patient would be evaluated by the rheumatologist and then a course the treatment would be planned. Besides medications and drugs, some complementary treatment options might as well be advised by the doctor.

The commonly used medications are:

æ DMARDs or disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.
æ Biologics like Enbrel, Rixutan, Humira and Orencia.
æ NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like naproxen and Celebrex.
æ Corticosteroids like hydrocortisone and prednisone.
æ Analgesics or pain relievers.

Rheumatoid arthritis is very common in America and almost 2.1 million Americans have been suffering from this painful condition. Women however, are mostly affected by this condition than men.  Almost 75% of the people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are woman.

Summary:

Rheumatoid arthritis happens to be a chronic and potentially disabling condition, and spreading awareness about this disease is a must. Learning more about the symp0tms and the impact of the disease would be an eye-opener for the patients.

Learn more about the common mistakes people usually make:

#1: Patients having moderate to very severe rheumatoid arthritis sometimes do not take DMARDs or disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. This is a major mistake as DMARDs, if taken at the early onset of the disease can help in treating the disease even faster.

#2: Patients often fail to take the prescribed dosage of medicines due to lack of understanding of the directions or due to non-compliance.

#3: Patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis hold an opinion that right after their joint injection they must get back to work in order to resume their normal course of activities- this is absolutely wrong. If the joints are not allowed to rest immediately after treatment, potential joint damage could be accelerated.

#4:  Rheumatoid arthritis patients do not feel the need to consult more than one doctor for a second opinion. In case your problem persists, even after treatment, you must consult a second doctor for another opinion.

#5: Underestimating the basic importance of an undisturbed sleep can be dangerous. Every human being, irrespective of their health condition, needs proper rest and sleep. With rheumatoid arthritis patients, the importance of sleep is even more than any usual person. It can be said that patients with rheumatoid arthritis need more sleep. With proper sleep, the joints would get ample rest, which is needed.

#6: Not exercising regularly.  Regular exercise and especially aerobic exercise is a must for rheumatoid arthritis. As aerobic exercises involve the movement of all the body parts including the joints, it helps in building up the joint strength. Any form of exercise can help in reducing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. As your joints need rest, they need exercise as well.

#7: Neglecting the regular check ups that needs to be done according to age can be harmful. There are certain tests that must be done at appropriate age, such as pelvic tests for women, prostate tests for men and colonoscopy for both the sexes. These tests do not need any specific reason and must be done at an appropriate age to understand the condition.

#8: Smoking can actually double the risk associated with rheumatoid arthritis. So avoid smoking if you want to keep a check on your rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

#9: Avoiding multivitamins. Multivitamins are a must for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The vitamins have a great role to play in strengthening our joints and providing our body with proper nourishment as well. Patients can also take multivitamin dietary supplements to give their body enough nutrition and nourishment.

#10: Paying least attention to the mental health. Rheumatoid arthritis is definitely a crippling disease, but can be cured. Remember, that stress and anxiety and any sort of mental abnormalities can have a direct impact on the health of a patient suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. It has been said that rheumatoid arthritis is triggered by mental stress as well.

These 10 mistakes must be avoided by every patient suffering fm rheumatoid arthritis.

Summary:

Rheumatoid arthritis needs treatment and sometimes beyond the medications as well. Though medications are necessary, but if that can be coupled with proper exercise and other healthy practices, the patient would feel better and healthier.

Essentially, rheumatoid arthritis is a kind of auto-immune disease which is inflammatory in nature. It is chronic disease (being a persistent and incessant medical condition) Rheumatoid arthritis is, unfortunately, one of the leading causes of disability in USA. There are thousands of people, of all ages (though, mainly middle-aged people) being diagnosed with this disease. Arthritis mainly affects the joints in the body. The joint is the place where two bones in the body meet. There is a layer of synovial fluid within the capsule enclosing the joint. In rheumatoid arthritis, this synovium is affected by the body’s own immune system. WBC (white blood cells) of the blood plasma, which is generally involved in developing the body’s immunity, travels to the joint tissue and causes inflammation, resulting in swollen and stiff joints. That is why rheumatoid arthritis is called an auto-immune disease. Although most patients have swollen joints as the evident sign of arthritis, there are many who have other symptoms, like anemia, neck pain, dry eyes and mouth.

Rheumatoid arthritis develops slowly in people. About 75% of the patients are women and it typically starts in the middle age. However, it can also develop in children and young adults. The most crucial symptoms include:

· Pain in the joints
· Swelling and inflammation in the joints
· Warmth around the affected areas
· Stiffness in the joints in the morning; lasting for about one hour or so.
An important point that must be kept in mind during diagnosis is that patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis have a typical symmetry in the affected areas. This means that if the knee joint of the left leg is swollen, the same symptoms will be exhibited by the knee joint of the right leg. Hence, this symmetry is very helpful in diagnosing typical rheumatoid arthritis.

In almost one-fifth of the patients, there are small lumps or modules found on the elbows and hands. These are called ‘rheumatoid nodules’. Also, in rheumatoid arthritis, patients exhibit fatigue and stress in daily life. There is, sometimes, loss of body temperature (low fever), as well as certain signs of influenza. Loss of appetite and consequent weight loss is seen. Some patients also undergo depression during the course of the disease. There is limited movement in the affected areas and joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects people differently. In certain people, it persists for a few months or a year and disappears. In others, it has periods of excessive symptoms (flares), and periods in which the symptoms are less evident (remissions). Some very rare symptoms include inflammation of the blood vessels, lining of lungs, or the pericardium.

Thus, rheumatoid arthritis can be well treated and kept within limits, if the disease is diagnosed efficiently and flawlessly, which is only possible with proper knowledge of the symptoms

Summary:

Early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis tend to manifest with a few episodes of painful joints and occasional swelling. These conditions must not be ignored in the initial stages and you must see a doctor immediately.

Learn How to Deal With These Active Symptoms Well

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can be dealt very well with early and aggressive treatments in patients who have just been diagnosed with the disease. But people who have been experiencing these symptoms for over 10 years or even longer can also benefit from these aggressive treatments, provided that they have the active symptoms associated with the disease like pain of the joints and swelling.

Be Aware of All the Risks Associated With Long-term Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a potentially threatening disease and as it is a typical autoimmune disease, it can affect the internal organs as well. Chronic inflammation, which is caused due to rheumatoid arthritis, can lead to severe heart diseases. It is very important for rheumatoid arthritis patients to keep monitoring their blood pressure levels, their body weight and the cholesterol levels for a better health. One should make attempts to keep these levels healthy.

Choose a Healthy Way of Life

A healthy lifestyle can open up doors for over all well being. How you choose to live your life would have a direct impact on how your health would be; your dietary habits, your regular exercise routine and your other food habits and addictions would determine the condition of your health.

A balanced diet is a must for everyone and it is even important for a rheumatoid arthritis patient in order to maintain a good health and a balanced body weight. Over weight people are likely to over-burden their joints and cause more pain.

Aerobic exercises can be very helpful in combating fatigue and also improving one’s mood. Rheumatic patients are likely to suffer from stress and depression, which can be avoided.

Weight bearing exercises are also a great aid, but of course, only if the body permits. With rheumatoid arthritis, a patient is likely to have many physical limitations. One must also take ample portions of vitamin D, as supplements and some calcium as well for the health of their bones.

Apart from all this, patient suffering from long term rheumatoid arthritis must:

4 Sleep well every night.
4 Be active and sporty.
4 Eat well, a balanced diet preferably.
4 Avoid junk foods.
4 Keep a watch in their body weight.
4 Take medicines regularly.
4 Go for regular check ups.
4 Avoid sedentary lifestyle.

Summary:

Preventive measures must always be taken when a person is suffering from a disease as critical as rheumatoid arthritis. Though there are many treatment options, but the results would only manifest when a person has been taking good care of himself.