|
|
|
Rheumatoid Arthritis |
|
|
One of the most common forms of arthritis, rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease, characterized mainly by inflammation of
the lining, called synovium, of the joints. The condition can lead to damage
in the long term of the joints, thus resulting to chronic pain, loss of
function, and eventually, disability.
How it Progresses
Normally, rheumatoid arthritis progresses in three stages:
First Stage: The synovial lining found in the joint where bone ends meet
experiences swelling. This leads to pain, warmth, stiffness, and redness
around the joint. The swelling of the synovium is caused by a reaction of
the immune system, which is activated by as of yet unknown trigger, leading
the lymphocytes to send their chemical messengers, called cytokines, to the
affected area.
Second Stage: Reacting to the inflammation, the synovium undergoes rapid
cell division, called pannus, thus leading to a thickening of the synovial
lining. This progression leads to more pain for the patient.
Third Stage: With the synovium thickened, the inflamed cells around it
release enzymes. These enzymes contain chemicals capable of digesting bone
and cartilage, tissues that make up the joint because of their involvement
in overall shape and realignment of the bones and muscles. When the bone and
cartilage are attacked, the joint loses its shape and alignment, resulting
to more pain and even loss of movement.
Nature
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease. That means, it may progress
indefinitely and may not go away entirely. While it is quite true that the
symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may disappear for some time, frequent
flares may also occur.
In addition to being a chronic disease, rheumatoid arthritis is also a
systemic disease. This means that it can affect other organs in the body,
like the skin, blood vessels, lungs, and heart.
Diagnosis
To effectively combat rheumatoid arthritis, early diagnosis is imperative.
There have been several reports about how aggressive treatment approach to
the disease in its early stages can be quite effective in halting its
progression. But it should be noted that most treatment approaches to
rheumatoid arthritis currently is to reduce the pain caused by the disease
and if possible, prevent the disease from progressing any further.
In order to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, the patient must meet with the
doctor first. Blood tests and X-rays are then obtained to identify if the
type of arthritis you have is indeed rheumatoid arthritis (there are many).
Along with the blood tests and X-rays, the doctor will also review the
history of symptoms and examines the joints for inflammation and deformity.
He will also check the skin for rheumatoid nodules (a common sign of
rheumatoid arthritis) and other parts of the body for inflammation.
In most cases, diagnosis depends on the distribution of joint inflammation
as it would be difficult for the doctor to make the diagnosis for rheumatoid
arthritis since uneven distribution of inflammation may be the result of
infection or gout. One of the signs of rheumatoid arthritis is symmetrical
distribution (affecting both sides of the body) of join inflammation in the
small joints of the hands, wrists, feet, and knees. Rheumatoid nodules,
their presence, may also suggest diagnosis. |
| 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arthritis Articles
|
Rheumatoid Arthritis 2
One of the most common forms of arthritis, rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease, characterized mainly by inflammation of
the lining,
|
|
Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
One of the forms of arthritis commonly occurring
among persons aged 60 and above, rheumatoid arthritis is a result of
a defective immune system
|
|
Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disorder for
which there is no known cure. Because rheumatoid arthritis presents
itself in many different forms and ways,
|
|
Septic Arthritis
Septic arthritis poses the biggest threat to young
children and the elderly as their immune systems can be compromised due to
their age.
|
|
|
|
Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease
that causes the immune system to attack the joints; this abnormal autoimmune
response
|
|
What Causes Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease; this means
that your immune system attacks other parts of your body resulting to
redness, pain,
|
|
What is Arthritis?
One of the leading causes – if not the leading cause – of
disability in the United States is arthritis. This means that over 16
million adults are forced
|
|
|
|
|
