Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis Overview

Rheumatoid Arthritis Overview
L. Hirt & eKnowItAll.com

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that affects your joints. It can cause swelling, stiffness, pain and loss of function in the joints it affects. Unlike other types of arthritis, it does not usually affect just one joint, but the matching joint on the other side of your body as well. The most commonly affected joints are the wrists and fingers. There are several forms of the disease, ranging from a short period of pain lasting for only a year to severe pain that lasts many years or an entire lifetime. SymptomsSymptoms can vary from person to person, but there are several features of the disease that often occur:Tender, swollen and warm joints often in the wrist or fingers Pain affecting the same joints on both sides of your bodyInflammation in other joints such as the knees or hipsProlonged periods of pain and stiffness, after long periods of rest or after waking upOccasional fevers, fatigue, and an overall feeling of not being wellFactors Increasing the Risk of Rheumatoid ArthritisRheumatoid arthritis can be hereditary, and can result from having specific genes that control your immune system. Several genes play a role in whether a person develops the disease, and how severely they are afflicted. Genetics, however, is not the only factor.It is believed that certain events trigger the onset of rheumatoid arthritis in people already susceptible to it because of their genes. The most likely causes are bacterial or viral infections.Women are more likely to develop the disease than men, and their hormone levels may affect the onset of the disease. For example, pregnancy often lessens the severity of the disease, while flare-ups often occur after giving birth.The Basics of Rheumatoid ArthritisJoints, where two bones connect, are normally surrounded by a protective and supportive capsule. The capsule surrounds the joint and the cartilage between the bones. Healthy joints have a lining of a tissue called synovium and produce a fluid that both nourishes and lubricates the bones and cartilage. In people with rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system produces white blood cells that attack the synovium. This causes the inflammation consistent with arthritis, and makes the joint swollen and painful. Once the disease develops, the inflamed synovium actually attacks the joint and its bone and cartilage, working to destroy it. Eventually, the muscles around the joint become too weak to support it properly, causing often severe pain and joint damage. Common TreatmentsNo matter what treatment doctors and patients choose, the goal is always to stop pain and inflammation, prevent further damage to joints and allow the person to function normally.Dealing with the Disease:Splints can be used to support an affected joint, letting it rest. This will reduce swelling and pain. Other simple tools can make daily tasks easier for people with the disease. For example, patients may use special devices to help them get in and out of bed.A healthy blend of rest and exercise is also important. Doctors suggest getting more exercise while the disease is not severe, and getting more rest when attacks flare-up. Exercise improves flexibility, muscle strength, and joint mobility, while also contributing to the patients overall well-being. When resting, it is best to rest for short periods, rather than taking long naps.To reduce the stress involved in coping with the disease, patients can utilize relaxation techniques, regular exercise, and support groups. Eating a balanced diet also contributes to overall well-being.Medication and SurgeryMost people with rheumatoid arthritis take some form of medication. Types include those to relieve pain, to reduce inflammation and to slow the onset of the disease. Common drugs include Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and aspirins. The most effective treatments often include a combination of more powerful medications.Surgery can be performed to reduce pain and improve joint function and daily life. Common surgeries include joint replacement, tendon reconstruction, and synovectomy, in which doctors remove the inflamed synovial tissue. This is done only as part of other reconstructive surgery.For all patients, regular doctor visits, and routine blood and other laboratory tests are important and should be made on a regular basis. About the Author
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Rheumatoid Arthritis
Charlene J. Nuble

A shooting pain in the knee. A burning sensation in the hand. Before you know it, you have rheumatoid arthritis. 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. The hands and feet are the most affected areas of rheumatoid arthritis although it can also affect any joint lined by a membrane. Rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a systematic illness and sometimes called rheumatoid disease.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. In terms of statistics, rheumatoid arthritis is three times more common in women than in men. It also besets people of all races equally. Rheumatoid arthritis can begin at any age but most often start in the early forties. What causes rheumatoid arthritis? The truth is, its cause is still unknown. Viruses, bacteria, and fungi have long been suspected but none has been proven to be the cause. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis has been the focus of different research activities. There are some scientists who believe that the tendency to develop rheumatoid arthritis may be genetically inherited while others believe that certain factors in the environment might elicit the immune system to attack the body’s own tissue components. This attack results to the inflammation in various organs such as lungs or eyes. Researchers have also found that environmental factors may also play a role in the cause of rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, scientists reported that smoking tobacco increases risk in the development of rheumatoid arthritis.The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis depend on the degree of tissue inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis is said to be active if the body tissues are inflammed. When the tissue inflammation subsides, rheumatoid arthritis is said to be in remission. Remissions may happen spontaneously or with treatment and can last for weeks, months, even years. During active rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms are felt. Symptoms may include fatigue, lack of appetite, low grade fever, and muscles and joint aches. Muscles and joint stiffness are usually felt during mornings and after a period of inactivity. During relapses (from inactivity to activity) of rheumatoid arthritis, joints become red, swollen, painful, and tender. This happens because the tissue lining of the joints become inflamed which results in the excess production of joint fluids. Multiple joints are usually inflamed in symmetrical pattern and the joints of both hands and wrists are often affected. Simple tasks such as turning the door knob and opening the jars can be painful. Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect the joint responsible for the tightening of vocal cords to change the tone of the voice although rarely. But when this happens, it can cause hoarseness of the voice. As mentioned before, rheumatoid arthritis is a systematic disease which can affect organs and areas of the body other than the joints. Sjorgen’s syndrome is the inflammation of the glands of the eyes and mouth which causes dryness. Rheumatoid inflammation of the lung lining can cause chest pains because the lung tissue itself is inflamed and nodules of inflammation also develop within the lungs. Rheumatoid arthritis can also reduce the number of red blood cells which can result to anemia and white blood cells which can result to increase risk of infections. A rare, serious complication of rheumatoid arthritis is blood vessel inflammation which can impair blood supply to tissues and lead to death of tissues. A rheumatologist is a doctor who specializes in arthritis and other related diseases. The rheumatologist reviews the history of symptoms, examines the joints, and the other parts of the body for the inflammation. The diagnosis is usually based on the pattern of symptoms, the distribution of the inflamed joints, and the blood and x-rays obtained. Until now, there is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis. Reducing joint inflammation and pain, maximizing joint function, and preventing joint destruction is the current goal in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Early medical intervention has been found to improve outcomes in treatment. Optimal treatment includes combination of medications, joint strengthening exercises, joint protection, and patient education. Treatment is customized according to many factors such as disease activity, types of joints involved, general health, age, and occupation. But treatment is most successful when there is close cooperation between the doctor and the patient.————————-Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR’S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.————————- About the Author
Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information about arthritis, please go to: http://arthritis.besthealthlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/

Remain Active with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Yoga Guide

Remain Active with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Yoga Guide
ARA Content

(ARA) – More and more people are performing the age-old practice of Yoga. Yoga can stretch you, it can relax you and now it may help people with arthritis. According to the American Yoga Association (AYA), Yoga may help people with arthritis deal with pain and stiffness, improve range of motion and increase strength for daily activities.
One of the most common forms of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which affects approximately two million Americans, of which more than 75 percent are women. RA is a chronic, autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue lining the joints, leading to pain, deformity and disability that may be permanent. Now available is a first-of-its kind online Yoga guide specifically for people with RA, developed by the AYA, in collaboration with the Arthritis Foundation and support from RAacademy.com.
For thousands of years people have used Yoga to build flexibility and strength, improve concentration, relieve stress and increase energy. Today the benefits of Yoga may extend to people with RA. According to a pilot study published in the British Journal of Rheumatology, people with RA who participated in a Yoga program over a three-month period experienced greater handgrip strength compared to those who did not practice Yoga.
“People with RA may benefit from low-impact exercises like Yoga to help improve overall health and fitness without further damaging or hurting the joints,” said Dr. Cheryl Lambing, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California Los Angeles. “Physical activity may optimize both physical and mental health and plays a vital role in disease management.”
The unique Yoga guide, Remain Active with RA, encompasses traditional Yoga poses including range-of-motion, muscle strengthening, and endurance exercises – the three major forms of exercise typically prescribed for people with RA. Each exercise contains detailed photographs and instructions indicating the proper way to perform each movement, with variation of exercises based on disease severity. It is important for people with RA to speak to their physician before embarking on any new exercise program.
“With my rheumatoid arthritis, I never thought I would be able to do an exercise like Yoga,” said Lynn McKenzie-Collins, Ph.D. “I am now reassured that there is a Yoga guide tailored for people with my disease that may help my pain and stiffness.”
The Remain Active with RA Yoga Guide is offered free exclusively at www.RAacademy.com and can be accessed when visitors to the site register. RAacademy is a disease web site, sponsored by Aventis Pharmaceuticals that provides RA-related news and information to people with the disease and their families. In addition to the Yoga guide, the site features self-care tools and tips for living with RA.
About The Author
Courtesy of ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com; e-mail: [email protected]

Powerful Arthritis Pain Relief For All Of Us

Powerful Arthritis Pain Relief For All Of Us
Jim Dowler

When you ask what arthritis is, professinals will tell you it’s inflammation of one or more joints. But you know it better as pain, swelling, stiffness, deformity, and/or a diminished range of motion of those joints! It’s estimated that over 50 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other related conditions. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Osteo arthritis seems to come with the wear and tear of aging and affects nearly three-quarters of those over 50. The onset of arthritis is marked by morning stiffness, crackling joints, and perhaps some pain. As it progresses it causes discomfort, more pain, and some disability. It also causes an enormous consumption of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs that can have undesirable long-term effects. If left untreated, osteo and rheumatoid arthritis, along with other forms of rheumatoid disease, can become progressively worse… painful crippling can result. This is particularly true of rheumatoid arthritis, which can destroy joints, unless effective treatment is administered in time. Modern medicine doesn’t have much to offer for these chronic conditions… offering only symptomatic temporary relief. True, painkillers along with the so-called NSAIDs, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are effective in reducing symptoms quickly. However,these often cause serious side effects such as ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding, and they don’t stop the progression of the disease. In the long run they have actually proven to worsen the condition by accelerating joint destruction. Coping with the chronic pain of arthritis can be frustrating. You get the feeling you’re all alone facing the daily challenges caused by your arthritis symptoms. And, the traditional treatments leave a lot to be desired. It doesn’t have to be this bad! The last few years of research on arthritis have brought some hope to this dismal picture. Old herbal remedies such as ginger, nettle, and willow bark, as well as fish oils and the already well-known cartilage constituents glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate, are about to revolutionize the treatment of arthritis. These substances not only give symptomatic relief, but, actually intervene at the root of the arthritis problem and help the body to rebuild functioning joints. As they quickly sooth your pain, these powerful creams help repair, restore and regenerate cartilage, tendons, muscle and ligaments. Fast acting, these creams increase mobility and optimal repair of joint structures as they help reinforce the body’s protective linings and lubricating fluids by recovering cell stability and function to stop further damage. Really powerful stuff. You can learn more about this non-traditional arthritis treatment at our website. To your good health, Jim Dowler
Jim Dowler is the Webmaster of http://arthritis-pain-relief.gainstreet.com