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Archive for the ‘Rheumatoid Arthritis’ Category

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease of the joints where they get inflamed and causes sudden pain in the area. This is common to people who are aged 30 and up. This disease of the joint is associated with several rheumatoid arthritis symptoms that helps us determine when we are affected with it.

The major symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is the morning stiffness. This lasts about an hour or more. It can also be an indication that the individual is on the early stages of osteoarthritis.

Here are some of the usual rheumatoid arthritis symptoms:

Swelling and Pain

Individuals who suffer from swelling and pain around the joints for more than six weeks are being diagnosed of rheumatism. The pain and swelling in the area is also associated with a warm feeling when touched. The pain may not be felt all over the body but just in some specific joints.

Most of the time, it’s the knees and hands.

Flu-Like Symptoms

Some people suffer from flu-like symptoms like fatigue, fever and even weight loss as the rheumatism occurs. This is not a very common rheumatoid arthritis symptom, but there have been patients who suffered from these. However, this is different from the usual flu. This type of symptom brought by rheumatism lasts for years. This usually happens after you have been diagnosed of rheumatism.

Fluid Buildup

Rheumatism arthritis can cause accumulation of fluid in between the joints. This usually happens in the ankles. There are some cases when the joint sac found in the back of the knee accumulates the fluid and forms the Baker cyst. The cyst has a tumor effect and sometimes, the pain is felt down the back of the calf.

This can be really painful. The fluid buildup has been considered a rheumatoid arthritis symptom because only people suffering from rheumatism have it.

Nodules

According to surveys, there are about 20 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients who have inflamed blood vessels that causes nodules or lumps underneath the skin. The said lumps are about the side of a pea or sometimes even larger. These are often seen neat the elbow joint, but they can be scattered anywhere in the body as well. The said nodules can show up throughout the course of rheumatism. There have also been cases when the nodules become infected and sore, but seldom happen. In some cases, the nodules also reflect the presence of rheumatoid vasculitis, another disease affecting the blood vessels of the kidney, lungs and other internal organs.

Pain in Specific Joints

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms don’t just occur in all our joints. They mostly develop around the joints of the wrists, knees, knuckles and ball of the foot. Other joints may also be involved such as the shoulders, tips, elbows, cervical spine, jaw, or even the bones in the inner ear. The disease seldom occurs on the fingertips which is common in osteoarthritis, but if it does occur, it can be really painful.

Now that you know about the usual rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, you can recognize the disease if it already occurring on your body.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a very serious disease, which is actually a great deal different than other types of arthritis. However, it shares a number of the same symptoms, including joint discomfort and joint stiffness.

One of the major differences about this type of joint disorder is that it is caused by an autoimmune response in the body. An autoimmune response is when the persons own body begins to attack healthy cells and organs. Not only can rheumatoid arthritis effect joints, but it can also cause damage to other organs in the body.

Another big difference between this kind of arthritis and other common types of arthritis, like osteoarthritis, is that rheumatoid arthritis usually attacks joints in a symmetrical manner. This means that if rheumatoid arthritis is present in one knee, it will usually also be present in the other knee. The autoimmune response is brought about by bone and tissue eating enzymes that are released around affected joints, in an effort to control the swelling.

However, the enzymes not only attack damaged tissue, but they also attack the cartilage and tissue that is still healthy.

Like other more common types of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis can be found in people of any age. However, those between the ages of thirty and sixty are more likely to be diagnosed with this disorder. The disease is also significantly more common among females, with smoking also being a factor that increase the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Across the world, about 1% of the total world population has rheumatoid arthritis.

There are a number of common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, including a reduction in mobility and joint swelling.

However, unlike osteoarthritis, which is characterized by morning joint discomfort that lasts for less than 30 minutes, joint discomfort usually lasts for at least an hour for those with this type of arthritis. It is also common for a sensation of general unease, referred to as Malaise, to develop. In addition, dry mouth, dry eyes, tiredness, reduced hunger, fever, and fatigue may also be present.

It can be incredibly hard for doctors to diagnose this disease, because there is no actual test for the disease. Instead a combination of reviewing the patients history, considering their symptoms, preforming blood tests, and taking x-rays is usually used to help determine if the individual has rheumatoid arthritis.

Even though there is no cure for this disease, it can be treated, but it is incredibly important to diagnose the disease as soon as is possible, to reduce the damage it can cause. Often, many of the normal arthritis treatments are used, which include eating healthily, trying to reduce excess weight, and preforming light exercise. However, a number of other medications exists that can help counteract its effects.

No one knows for sure what causes the disease, but a commonly held belief among scientists and researchers is that in an individual who is genetically predisposed to developing the disease, a triggering event will occur that causes it to develop.

Signs of rheumatoid arthritis may vary from patient to patient. Common manifestations of this degenerative disease are joint pain and stiffness which are felt first in the small joints of the fingers, wrist, hands and feet.

It is in the period of inactivity and while waking in the morning that joint pain and stiffness are more severe. The common joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis includes cervical spine, shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. The joint involvement usually is symmetrical, which means that if signs of rheumatoid arthritis develop on one side of the body, it may also occur on the other side of the body in a similar location. As the disease progresses, it may cause deformity and joint instability due to the damage to cartilage, tendons, ligaments and bones.

Loss of joint function may result to damage and can lead to difficulty in performing daily tasks.

The following are also signs for rheumatoid arthritis:

* Anemia
* Depression
* Fatigue
* Flu-like signs
* Loss of appetite leading to weight loss
* Muscle pains
* Weakness

Usually signs of arthritis depend on the degree of the tissues inflammation and the extent of the involved joint. Also, if the body tissues are inflamed, it means that the disease is active and when the inflammation subsides, the disease is inactive.

Because arthritis is a systemic disease, its inflammation can affect the organs and the areas of the body other than the joints. If the disease is active, signs are then felt like fatigue, loss of energy, lack of appetite, low-grade fever, muscle and joint aches, and stiffness. Another sign that you can have is the decreased number of red blood cells and even white blood cells.

Signs of rheumatoid arthritis such as any of the above mentioned symptoms should not be taken lightly and must be addressed with your health care provider as soon as possible.

Early and aggressive treatment immediately following any signs of rheumatoid arthritis will lead to the best overall management of this challenging condition.

Rheumatoid osteo-arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease characterized by persistent symmetric irritation of multiple peripheral joints. It’s a single from the most typical inflammatory rheumatic diseases and is characterized by the improvement of the chronic inflammatory proliferation of the synovial linings of diarthrodial joints, which leads to aggressive cartilage destruction and progressive bony erosions.Rheumatoid arthritis is a very serious disease and early detection and treatment is critical. If you begin to experience any of the common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, keep track of your symptoms and contact your doctor immediately. It is best to keep a detailed journal of your symptoms that you can discuss with your doctor. There are over 100 types of arthritis and proper diagnosis is needed to determine the proper treatment.

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms can vary – and can include any of the above symptoms or all of the above symptoms.

Different symptoms may be apparent at different stages of the disease. Consulting a physician with a list of your known symptoms can help you discover if rheumatoid arthritis is the type of arthritis you have. Active and Inactive Rheumatoid arthritis is a form of arthritis that can occur in stages.Rheumatoid arthritis manifests itself over a period of a few months. However, for some, the disease appears overnight. Accelerated onset of rheumatoid arthritis does not mean the individual is at greater risk of the progression of the disease. Rheumatoid arthritis can lasts for years without symptoms. But rheumatoid arthritis is an illness that progresses and has the potential to cause joint destrution and functional disability. Usually, patients suffer cycles from severe to light symptoms.

These elements have long been suspected to be the root causes of rheumatoid arthritis. But then again, it hasn’t been proven that they alone are sufficient to cause the disease. What is certain is that viruses, fungi, and bacteria play a certain role in the development of the disease, as they trigger the body’s immune system to act. Therefore, it can not be ruled out that these infectious agents may have something to do with rheumatoid

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks normal tissues as if they were invading antibodies. Rheumatoid arthritis also causes inflammation of the tissues around the joints and other organs of the body.

Although there are common symptoms for rheumatoid arthritis there are also many differences that exist. The above listing is only a partial listing of what you need to know about common rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis impacts every person differently. No two people experience the disease in exactly the same way. These differences make it difficult to identify the early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis involves looking at a patient’s symptoms. For instance, morning joint stiffness may be a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis; X-rays may help doctors determine which form of arthritis is present.

On the other hand, fish oil supplements have shown to have no side effects and only minor adverse reactions. They are also much cheaper than the non-inflammatory medications and more readily available.

Mangosteen is a relatively new and exciting addition to the western world as an anti-inflammatory. It was used historically by the native peoples of Thailand, Vietnam, India, China, Malaysia and the Philippines to treat a variety of bodily aches and pains.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis treatment usually involves the use of NSAIDs class drugs. These are non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs that are often prescribed to treat the symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Those who are afflicted are also encouraged to undertake appropriate exercise as it is important to retain their natural range of motion and flexibility, particularly in the synovial joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic progressive disease. The disease generally worsens as it progresses. If you are aware of any early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, you can take steps to prevent it from degenerating and a worsening in your condition.

Feverfew, lei gong teng and Cat’s Claw have been used historically by native healers as natural remedies for rheumatoid arthritis, as well as other health conditions. According to the researchers at Massachusetts General, test tube results indicate that feverfew may be very active in modulating immune system responses.

some common signs and symptoms:

1-Fatigue2-Aches in muscles and joints3-Stiffness in joints4-Low-grade fever can be present5-Appetite loss6-Joints can become red, swollen, painful, and tender

Unlike osteoarthritis which causes pain and stiffness because the cartilage that normally prevents the bones in the joints from rubbing together is wearing away, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are caused by an inflammation of the membrane that normally lubricates and protects the joints.

Four of the factors used in diagnosing the disease must be present for six weeks before a positive diagnosis can be made. As mentioned, joint pain is one of the first symptoms rheumatoid arthritis sufferers report, but joint pain is also present in osteoarthritis.

Actually, in India, curcumin is considered a standard anti-inflammatory medication. Indeed, turmeric as an alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis deserves a discussion with a physician.

These are some of the many natural remedies that can be found to help alleviate the pain and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis and to avoid a flare up of the symptoms.

Prevention and Cures

Diagnosis commences with some crucial tests. These tests determine the severity or the stage of rheumatoid arthritis for the individual. Once rheumatoid arthritis is confirmed, anti-rheumatic drugs are prescribed.

Anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen etc. are prescribed initially and more often to those who are suffering from mild form of the disease. But when the case gets worse, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs or DMARDs are given.

how does one know that he already has this chronic disease? The symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis can be present one moment and disappear again when the disease has ceased to be active. Thus, some people have a tendency to ignore seeking the help of a doctor when they first feel the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis.