The rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease where medium and small joints become inflamed. This condition occurs progressively and can affect other organs, it is also common in middle-aged women. Its origin is autoimmune and its development may include that our body does not recognize the antigens that occur naturally, resulting in an inadequate response in the activation of our immune system. At FastlyHeal we explain the symptoms, causes and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis .
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Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms
The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are presented on both sides of the body and joints that are most affected are the ankles, wrists, knees and fingers. At the beginning of the disease, fatigue, mild joint pain and stiffness may occur, especially in the early hours of the morning and will make your hands feel warm or sensitive.
It should be noted that the pain, caused by inflammation, will become chronic as the disease progresses, in addition the joints may deform or lose their range of motion, this is a quite visible symptom in those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis . However, there is no way to prevent this disease, but it is proven that cigarette smoking can worsen the condition.
Causes of rheumatoid arthritis
The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, but it is believed that infections, genetic predisposition, although it is not inherited, and hormones, may be involved in the development of this disease. Although it is more common in women, men and children can also get it.
Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis generally requires lifelong treatment , including therapy, medications, education, and in some cases surgery. The drugs that will be prescribed will be anti-inflammatory , corticosteroid and antirheumatic. In the latter case, biological agents may be administered which will influence the immune system. These drugs can be given along with other arthritis medications and are given subcutaneously or intravenously. For this type of medication, you must pay attention to the patient since there are serious risk factors:
- Lymphoma leukemia
- Allergic reactions
- Psoriasis
- Fungal, bacterial, or viral infections
The surgery will be applied in case of needing the correction of a joint that has suffered serious damage. In the case of therapy, range or range of motion exercises such as extensions and push-ups or heat and cold treatments will be used, this will help delay the loss of joint function. On the other hand, a balanced diet rich in fatty acids can help people with this ailment.
There are also possible complications since rheumatoid arthritis affects almost any part of the body, there may be damage to the lung tissue, injuries to the spine, inflammation of the blood vessels, risk of arteriosclerosis and suffering from heart failure. The prognosis of this disease will depend on the severity of the symptoms, people with joint deformities and those affected at an early age tend to worsen quickly. Treatment is the key in any of the cases to reduce the damage.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Rheumatoid Arthritis: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment , we recommend that you enter our Bones, Joints and Muscles category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.