Rheumatoid arthritis- an autoimmune disease is the main reason for the joint and body pains. The joint damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis or RA affects both sides of the body. So, if one of the leg’s or arm’s joint is affected, the other one will be affected too.
Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis:
The most prominent symptoms of this chronic disease are the inflammation and unbearable pain in the joints. The symptoms include:
- Warm, tender and swollen joints
- Stiffy joints that get in worse condition in the morning
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue, fever
This is true that rheumatoid arthritis mainly affects the joints but about 40% of the people with RA experience the non-joint symptoms. The activity periods of rheumatoid arthritis is known as flares.
Causes of rheumatoid arthritis:
If the immune system of our body attacks the synovium (the lining of the membranes surrounding your joints), RA or rheumatoid arthritis occurs. This causes inflammation and thickens the synovium and eventually damages the cartilage of the bone. When the ligament and tendon get weaker, the joints lose their shape and alignment. Thus, a person feels the pain in joints. Though the source of the disease is unknown, some doctors blame the genetic components. The environmental facts like infection with virus or bacteria can also trigger the disease.
Risk factors:
There are a few factors that increase the risk of RA to a significant extent.
- Sex:
Women are more prone to develop this disease than men.
- Age:
Although this chronic disease can affect anyone at any age, it is more common in the middle-aged men and women.
- Family history:
If anyone in your family has/had this disease, your risk of developing this disease increases.
- Smoking:
Smoking increases the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. If you have a family history of RA, smoking makes it sure you develop this disease.
- Obesity:
Obesity is not a disease but it is the reason for many. Women under the age of 55 often suffer from this disease due to obesity.
Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis:
Theoretically, rheumatoid arthritis has no cure. However, one can manage it with some medications and changes in diet and lifestyles. There are some specific types of exercise that can be followed to decrease the pain.
Prevention is always better than cure. So, don’t miss a chance to keep yourself fit with regular exercise like morning walk. Switch to a healthy diet and prevent this disease.