Feb
16
Arthritis – Are You and Your Joints headed for a Divorce?
Filed Under Uncategorized
Author: Fernanda B.Sc, Pharm, M.H.
You will find greater than one hundred different types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases. Within the more widely understood conditions are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and lupus. When I think of arthritis disease the single form that stands out is one of the more debilitating types of arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects about one percent of the residents of North America and occurs three times as often in women than in males. It can occur at any age but most often the age of onset is between 50 and 60. This arthritis disease is a chronic, progressive state that causes the lining of your joints to become inflamed.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease which means that it has an influence on the entire body. As this arthritis disease progresses it can not only impair the tendons, ligaments, cartilage and bone in the joints but also other places in the body such as your lungs and blood vessels.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease which means that the body’s immune system is not functioning correctly. The immune system does not know it’s own tissue and reacts to it like aliens. With this type of arthritis disease the immune system assaults the joints and surrounding tissue causing long term harm.
Symptoms can arrive very suddenly or slowly and the arthritis disease has various times when it is bothering you and periods where you are not bothered. When the disease is active, symptoms you may have are fatigue, lack of appetite, low grade fever, muscle and joint aches and stiffness. Muscle and joint stiffness are most often notable in the AM and after sessions of inactivity. In Rheumatoid arthritis joints are typically-most often inflamed in a symmetrical pattern (both sides of the body affected). Joints in the hands and wrists are usually influenced.
Visit your physician if you are having some of the above symptoms. He will carry out a physical examination about your medical background and he will also obtain a blood test. The findings from the blood test will help the doctor determine which type of arthritis disease you are suffering from. Your physician may advise you to see a rheumatologist which is a doctor that specializes in diagnosing and treating arthritic diseases. The two may work together to provide you the best treatment for your problem.
While you can’t heal your condition, you can adopt a variety of coping mechanisms that leave you more active and in control of your life. You and your joints can stay on good terms. Read for my next Blog on arthritis help.
