WHAT IS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS?
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a long term auto-immune
disorder that causes inflammation of joints and
surrounding tissues. The term is based on Greek for
‘’Water and Inflamed joints’’. It may lead to pain,
swelling and stiffness in joints.
It commonly affects the hands , knees , ankles . Over
time it can also affect other body parts and systems
like eyes , heart, skin and more. People of age 30 to
50 are most common victims of this chronic disorder
but it can occur in any age .
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CAUSES
Rheumatoid arthritis is an Auto- immune disorder
(i.e.) the body's immune system attacks its own tissue,
including joints. In severe cases, it attacks internal
organs.
The immune system of an affected person
mistakenly sends antibodies to the lining of the
joints, where they attack the tissue around the
joints
This leads to the covering of the joints by thin
layers of cells, synovium. Joints become sore and
inflamed and releases chemicals that damage
nearby bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments.
These chemicals gradually cause the joint to lose
its shape and alignment, eventually becoming
destroyed.
However, the specific causes or triggers of the disorder
are not yet known.
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SYMPTOMS
Rheumatoid arthritis
affects everyone
differently. In some
people joint symptoms
develop over several
years, in others progress
rapidly.
It affects joints on both sides of the body equally i.e. if
a joint is affected in one of the arms or legs, same joint
in another arm or leg will be affected. Fingers, wrists,
knees, feet, elbows, ankles, hips and shoulders are the
most commonly affected.
Early symptoms may include: 1) Minor joint pain
2) Stiffness 3) Fatigue
The main symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are:
Joints are often swollen.
Nodules under the skin.
Stiffness for an hour in morning
Dry eyes and mouth
Fever
Rheumatoid arthritis signs and symptoms may vary in
severity and may even come and go. Periods of
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increased disease activity, called flares, alternate with
periods of relative remission — when the swelling and
pain fade or disappear.
HEALTH EFFECTS
1) MOUTH : Patients with rheumatoid arthritis can experience
problems with their mouths. Some are directly related to it
such as gum disease, jaw problems and dry mouth (i.e. lack of
saliva) and some are indirectly related to it being a result of
RA medication or due to difficulty with cleaning the mouth
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2) EYES : People with rheumatoid arthritis may experience
dryness, irritation, or grittiness in the eyes. It affects some parts
of the eye, such as the white of the eye, or sclera or cornea.
Some medications doctors use to treat it can also contribute
to eye conditions.
3) SKIN : Rheumatoid nodules — small lumps under the skin
over bony areas are formed.
4) HEART: Rheumatoid arthritis can increase the risk of
developing heart diseases like heart attack or stroke , that
can lead to premature death.
5) LUNGS : People with rheumatoid arthritis have an
increased risk of inflammation of the lung tissues, which can
lead to difficulty in breathing , lung-related conditions , such
as interstitial lung disease, lung nodules etc.
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RISK FACTORS
Several factors can
increase a person’s
chances of having
rheumatoid arthritis.
They can be genetics, hormonal, lifestyle or
environmental factors like age, gender, smoking,
infections etc.
GENETICS: Rheumatoid arthritis is not
considered an inherited disorder, but having certain
genes may increase the risk of developing it. If a
member of your family has rheumatoid arthritis, you
may have an increased risk of the disease
BIOLOGICAL SEX: Rheumatoid arthritis is more
common in females than males. It is said that women
are three times more likely to develop rheumatoid
arthritis than men.
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AGE: Rheumatoid arthritis can develop at
any age, but the risk increases as people get older. It is
most likely to arise in age of 40 to 60 years .
SMOKING: Smoking can cause oxidative
stress and increase the frequency of the body’s
inflammatory response. It can cause severe symptoms
and other medical problems.
HORMONES: Hormonal imbalances, such as
low estrogen and progesterone levels, may play a role
in causing rheumatoid arthritis or worsening its
symptoms.
FOOD: Some foods can be good for
rheumatoid arthritis but there are also foods that are
high in sugar, fats and salt which can increase the
chance of developing it by increasing inflammation in
body.
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DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
DIAGNOSIS
Rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to diagnose
because many conditions cause joint stiffness and
inflammation and there's no definitive test for the
condition. A Rheumatologist is doctor with specialized
training in treating arthritis. He diagnosis by using
medical history, a physical examination and lab tests
like blood test, imaging test etc.
MEDICAL HISTORY: The doctor asks about joint
symptoms like pain, stiffness etc. and how often they
come, how sever they are. Also he will ask whether
any family member have the disorder.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: The doctor will look for
joint tenderness, swelling, warmth and painful or
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limited movement, rheumatoid nodules or a low-
grade fever.
BLOOD TESTS: The blood tests look for inflammation
and blood proteins (antibodies) that are linked to
rheumatoid arthritis. Some of the main blood tests
used include:
o erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and
C-reactive protein (CRP) - Help to assess levels of
inflammation in the body.
o Full blood count – This test can be used to help
rule out other possible causes of your symptoms.
o Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide(Anti-CCPs): They
are antibodies also produced by the immune
system. People who test positive for anti-CCP are
very likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis.
o Rheumatoid factors: Rheumatoid factors are
proteins that the immune system produces when
it attacks healthy tissue. More than half of all
people with rheumatoid arthritis have high levels
of rheumatoid factors in their blood
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IMAGING TESTS: Rheumatoid arthritis can cause the
ends of the bones within a joint to wear down
(erosions). An X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI scan can look
for erosions.
TREATMENT
Although there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis,
treatment can help reduce inflammation in the joints,
relieve pain, prevent joint damage, reduce disability.
Treatment usually includes medications, physical
therapy, and exercise. Some people need surgery to
correct joint damage. There are medicines available to
help stop rheumatoid arthritis from getting worse and
reduce your risk of further problems. Physical
therapists can give an exercise plan and help achieve
pain relief. If joints are severely damaged, some
people need joint replacement surgery.
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PREVENTION
While there is no known way to prevent rheumatoid
arthritis altogether, certain measures may help delay
disease onset and minimize its impact.
Some of them are
Reduce Exposure to Environmental Pollutants
Stop Smoking.
Limit Alcohol
Improve Oral Health
Stay Active
Avoiding high-salt diets
Increase Fish Intake
Maintain a healthy weight
Take Early Action
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/rheumatoid-
arthritis
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/
https://versusarthritis.org/about-
arthritis/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/
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