Rheumatoid Arthritis – A slow and deadly disease

Rheumatoid Arthritis – A slow and deadly disease

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a medical condition which is associated with the inflammation of joints on the hands and feet. It is an inflammatory disorder that affects the lining of the joints which can lead to bone erosion, and furthermore, joint deformity. As a result, this makes Rheumatoid Arthritis different from Osteoarthritis.

This deadly condition is caused because of the development of autoimmunity in the body. In this case, the immune system of the body attacks the healthy body tissues that line the joints.

This leads to inflammation and subsequent severe consequences. For this very reason, it is essential to treat rheumatoid arthritis before it reaches high grades of damage. Apart from the aforementioned effects, this type of arthritis can also attack other parts of the body like eyes, vessels, skin, etc. To make sure that one is safe from this, it is essential to know about the symptoms and treatments of Rheumatoid Arthritis, as it helps in curing it in the nascent stages.

Symptoms Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms should be identified and noted carefully as they can take a long time to slow down and reduce the damage that the disease causes. The symptoms are as follows: 

The joints become swelled up, warmer than usual and tender

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There is a development of bumps under the skin (especially on the arms) which are fairly firm in nature

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One becomes a victim of weight loss, fatigue and high fever

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Morning stiffness is experienced that lasts for a few hours.

As it is evident, these symptoms make the detection of Rheumatoid Arthritis very difficult in the initial stages because of their resemblance to other common diseases. While it might not be

easy, there are still ways to confirm the possibility of having it by performing a blood test and specified X-rays.

Treatment Unfortunately, it is not possible to cure this disease. Rheumatoid Arthritis treatment mainly comprises of medications, surgery and therapy. The medications comprise of various drugs like steroids, chemical and biological variants of Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD) and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). While these drugs slow down the damage caused by the immune system on the joints, they have some serious side effects. Hence, the doctors are hesitant to prescribe strong drugs unless it becomes absolutely necessary. Therapy is a great way to keep the joints flexible and healthy to minimize the damage. At an advanced stage, surgical methods are an unavoidable yet effective methods to repair or replace damaged joints. Undergoing surgery can help in enabling using the joints, reducing the pain and correct deformities. However, there is always the risk of bleeding and severe infections. Therefore, depending on the severity of the situation, acting on the doctor's advice is the best option.

Rheumatoid Arthritis might not be completely curable but it can be certainly controlled and kept under check by the patients. To avoid it, one should stay fit both physically and mentally.

Staying aware, and being informative about all such situations can go a long way in saving you.