About rheumatoid arthritis and its treatment

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About Rheumatoid Arthritis and its Treatment Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of joints and the surrounding tissues. Effective treatment is available at leading multi-specialty healthcare centers.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of joints and the surrounding tissues, is a major cause of disability, mortality and morbidity. The disease affects “synovium” the membrane that lines and lubricates the joints. In this type of arthritis, the body’s immune system attacks its own connective tissue destroying the cartilage that protects the joints. It causes inflammation, stiffness and swelling of joints, pain, and general fatigue.

The disease can develop at any age, but typically starts between the ages of 40 and 60. It is more common among women.

According to the American College of Rheumatology, the disease affects less than one percent of adults or 1.3 million people in the United States.

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Weight a Key Factor in Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis says, New Study An article in Reuters Health reports on a new study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, which suggests that people who are overweight when diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis are less likely to be able to control the disease in its early stages than people with an ideal or healthy weight.

Researchers observed 500 adults diagnosed with RA (in the early stages) between the year 2006 and 2009. The database of rheumatology patients was analyzed that included their self-reported height and weight at diagnosis. It also included complete information and evaluation about the progress of the disease over the next six months. About 90% of patients were put on disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) at the time of diagnosis (usually methotrexate).

The main findings of the study are as follows: •

On a group level, about 33% of obese and overweight people have lesser chances of achieving good disease control within the first six months when compared to those with a healthy weight.

• Obese or overweight people also tended to suffer from more pain and discomfort within three to six months HealthQuest.com

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and had less chances of the symptoms subsiding than healthy patients •

Body fat could affect the course of the disease itself and possibly lead to more inflammation.

It is also reported that there will be obese patients with positive response and normal and healthy patients without good response.

Effective Non-invasive Therapies for Rheumatoid Arthritis The study emphasizes the importance of maintaining a stable or normal weight by patients with this chronic disease. This can be achieved by following healthy diet and active lifestyle and moderate exercises. Patients who are overweight should enroll in a weight loss program. Besides weight, family history also increases a person’s risk of RA. Once the condition is diagnosed, treatment should begin as soon as possible. Leading multispecialty healthcare centers offer a slew of non-invasive therapies for the condition such as physical therapy, chiropractic care, TENS, and antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They also offer pain management options for patients with acute and chronic pain as well as orthopedic surgery to resolve severe cases of arthritis.

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