Rheumatoid Arthritis

An Overview Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease in which the lining of your joints becomes inflamed, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. It is an autoimmune disease because it occurs when your immune system, which normally fights against infection, starts destroying healthy joints. Severe rheumatoid arthritis can be very painful and even cause deformity in a joint. It also affects your ability to perform routine activities.

Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis

In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks the synovium, the membrane that lines the joints. Why this happens is unclear. It could be genetic or triggered by a bacterial or viral infection. The inflamed and thickened synovium damages the cartilage and bone as well as the other structures surrounding and supporting the joint. There is weakening of the tendons and ligaments and eventually, the joint becomes deformed and out of alignment.

Rheumatoid arthritis can affect anyone, but it occurs more often in women, between the ages of 40 to 60, those who are obese and smokers.

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis often affect the small joints of the hands and feet, and later spread to the larger joints such as the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. Both sides of the body are usually affected. Symptoms include:

Swelling, warmth and tenderness at the joints
Joint stiffness that is worse in the morning, or after periods of rest or inactivity
Fever
Fatigue
Weight loss

The symptoms may vary in severity. They sometimes flare up or worsen, and at other times, are controlled (in remission). Joint deformity occurs at a later stage.

Rheumatoid arthritis may also affect other structures of the body such as the skin, eyes, salivary glands, lungs, heart, blood vessels, bone marrow, kidneys and nerves.

Complications Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you are more likely to develop the following conditions:

Osteoporosis, both from rheumatoid arthritis as well as its treatment
Infections due to an impaired immune system
Heart problems due to inflammation of the surrounding membranes
Lung disease due to inflammation and scarring of the lung tissue
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Tissue lumps or growths called rheumatoid nodules
Increased body fat
Blood cancers originating in the lymphatic system

Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis

To diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor will review your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical examination of your joints as well as your reflexes and strength. Diagnosis is difficult in the early stages as there are no definitive tests or physical findings for rheumatoid arthritis, and symptoms may be common to other conditions.

Your doctor may order:

Blood tests that detect inflammation in the body
Imaging tests such as X-rays, ultrasound or MRI to view the joints and check the progress of the disease

Treatments For Rheumatoid Arthritis