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Common Symptoms for Rheumatoid
Arthritis |
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Unlike other types of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is
actually an autoimmune disease. The immune system of a patient with
rheumatoid arthritis turns on its own, specifically attacking the joints and
other surrounding tissue. In a way, rheumatoid arthritis could be likened to
allergies but with starkly different symptoms. While the common symptoms of
allergies include runny nose, itchiness of the eyes, and skin rash, the
common symptoms for rheumatoid arthritis include inflammation in the lining
of the joints and pain in the affected areas.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that affects more than two million
people, usually between the ages of 20 and 25. Additionally, the common
symptoms for rheumatoid arthritis occur in all races and ethnic groups,
regardless of age or sex, although it appears that the disease affects two
to three times as many women as men.
Diagnosis
Since the common symptoms for rheumatoid arthritis differ from patient to
patient, there is no single method of making accurate diagnosis. Moreover,
the symptoms tend to develop overtime, making it even more difficult to
identify the disease early on. To determine the existence of the common
symptoms for rheumatoid arthritis, health care professionals apply a variety
of methods from blood testing to X-rays. Aside from identifying the common
symptoms for rheumatoid arthritis, these methods are also used to rule out
other conditions that may display more or less the same symptoms.
The other factors that health care practitioners often take into account
when diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis include:
* Medical history
* Physical examinations
* Laboratory tests
* X-rays
After Diagnosis, Now what?
After a patient is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, the next step is to
learn as much as you can about the disease in order to understand it. First
up, you need to understand that early detection of the common symptoms for
rheumatoid arthritis s often the key to helping you live longer despite the
disease. Remember that there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis and that as
the person ages, the symptoms may grow worse. However, if you identify these
common symptoms for rheumatoid arthritis early on and undergo aggressive
treatment, you increase your chance of living a long and healthy normal
life.
Dealing with the Pain
One of the most common symptoms for rheumatoid arthritis is joint pain.
Usually this is accompanied by some degree of depression, anxiety, and
feelings of helplessness. Most patients who suffer joint pain also suffer
morning stiffness in and around the joints. Sometimes the pain becomes too
much to bear that patients refuse to move as motion will only serve to
aggravate the pain.
However, recent studies show that exercise can actually alleviate some of
the common symptoms for rheumatoid arthritis. Constant motion balanced with
a good diet and plenty of rest will ease the pain that comes with this
debilitating disease and help you live a better life.
Be advised that you should consult with your doctor first before attempting
any strenuous exercise routines, as there are some types of exercises that
arthritic patients should not do. |
| This article
is provided courtesy of Roxanne Courtmanch. Please visit
www.thehelpingcircle.com for more articles on arthritis
as well as many other topics that may be of interest to you.
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