Reumatoid Arthritis
September 14th, 2009 by ZeroJointPainThe most common form of arthritis, known as osteoarthritis, is caused by severe damage or just general wear and tear of joints in the body. As such, it tends to occur only in people who have suffered some trauma to one or more of their joints, or people of advanced age.
- Reumatoid arthritis, by comparison, is a fairly rare affliction that has similar symptoms but the cause is unknown. All that is really understood about the causes of this form of arthritis is that it is related to the immune system.
- It is believed that in some cases, some infectious disease triggers the immune system, which then becomes confused and begins attacking the body’s own tissue.
Reumatoid arthritis can occur in persons of any age, even young children.
- It is three times more likely to affect women than men, though many men still develop this disorder. Most people who suffer from this disorder have a genetic predisposition toward it – that is, someone in their family had it before them.
- Unfortunately, there is no cure for the disorder, although with treatment it can be manageable.
Symptoms of reumatoid arthritis include swelling, tenderness and pain in the joints.
- While this type of arthtitis is most commonly seen in the hands, it can affect any of the body’s many joints.
- Feet, knees, elbows, shoulders, and other joints can all be affected. It is often symmetrical, so both sides of the body are affected equally. After a time, the joints may begin to grow stiff, especially in the morning.
- This can make it very difficult for a person to live a normal life, as simple tasks such as manipulating things with the hands or even walking become very painful.
Some other symptoms of this disorder can include flu-like symptoms, fatigue, and weight loss.
- In addition, small nodules sometimes develop beneath the skin. The inflammation caused by this form of arthritis can also spread to the organs in the body, in particular the heart and lungs. This can lead to fits of coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, and other symptoms.
If you’ve experienced these or similar symptoms, you should consult a doctor. The sooner that reumatoid arthritis is detected, the easier it will be to treat.
