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Rheumatoid Arthritis Early Symptoms
A Primer On Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis or RA affects approximately 1 out of 100 people between the ages of 35 and 50. Women are more susceptible to the disease and are three times more likely to
develop rheumatoid arthritis than men. Typically, rheumatoid arthritis develops in small joints, including hands, feet and wrists. Over a period of time, the pain and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can advance to larger joints, such as elbows, shoulders and knees. Because it is an autoimmune disease, meaning the immune system is attacking the joints, rheumatoid arthritis can affect connective tissue and blood vessels and can cause inflammation throughout organs in the body, including the heart and lungs.
What causes Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by inflammatory changes in a thin membrane that lines joints, also called the synovium. The synovium not only provides a protective covering for joints, but also secretes a lubricating fluid that enables joints to move freely. When the immune system attacks the synovium, the lining becomes inflamed and irritated, which causes swelling, aching pain and soreness in the affected joint tissue and may lead to cartilage and bone loss. Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk Factors Some factors that may increase your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis include: Age: Although rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age, most people develop RA between the ages of 35 and 50. Gender: Women are at higher risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis and represent three quarters of sufferers of the disease. Genetics & Family History: There may be an increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis if a close family member has the disease. Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include soreness, stiffness, achiness and loss of function in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect your wrists, hands, feet, elbows, shoulders, neck, knees, hips and ankles. Inis affected, the other hand also becomes affected. Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis can also affect connective tissue and blood vessels throughout the entire body. Inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis can extend to vital organs, including the heart and lungs. Furthermore, inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis can lead to an increased risk of respiratory and infectious diseases. Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is usually made by a physical examination, x-ray, joint aspiration procedure or blood test. It is important to find out whether or not you have rheumatoid arthritis, and, if diagnosed, what type of treatment is best for you. If swelling or stiffness occurs in your joints for more than two weeks, you should contact your doctor for a physical examination of affected joints. Because most patients that suffer from rheumatoid arthritis have antibodies called rheumatoid factors in their bloodstream, your doctor may have you take a blood test. However, an indication of rheumatoid factor in your blood does not necessarily mean that you have rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid factor is also found in cases of chronic infection and in some other types of autoimmune disease. Your doctor will most likely want to perform additional tests to confirm your diagnosis. By Susan Brink - HealthMark Multimedia develops award-winning health-related content solutions for patients and healthcare organizations. HealthMark content is used by patients in making treatment and self-care decisions.
What are the Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis? Rheumatoid Arthritis Signs and
19 Apr 2010 at 6:07am
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