Vital Info About Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder or an autoimmune disease that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks synovial joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can also cause inflammation of the tissue around the joints. The pathology of the disease process often leads to the destruction of articular cartilage and ankylosis of the joints. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the body’s tissues are mistakenly attacked by their own immune system.

Rheumatoid arthritis can also produce diffuse inflammation in the lungs, pericardium, pleura, and sclera, and also nodular lesions, most common in subcutaneous tissue under the skin. Although the cause of rheumatoid arthritis is still a mystery, autoimmunity plays a pivotal role in both its chronicity and progression.

The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. Even though infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi have long been suspected, none has been proven as the cause. It is also suspected that certain infections or factors in the environment might trigger the activation of the immune system in susceptible individuals. Environmental factors, like smoking, also seem to play some role in causing rheumatoid arthritis.

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are manifold. They keep coming and going depending on the degree of tissue inflammation. While active, the symptoms can include muscle and joint aches, stiffness, loss of energy, fatigue, low-grade fever and lack of appetite. The muscle and joint stiffness are very notable in the mornings and after any long periods of inactivity.

There has been no known permanent remedy or cure for rheumatoid arthritis till date and the goal of treatment in rheumatoid arthritis focuses on reducing joint inflammation and pain, maximizing the joint function, and preventing joint destruction and deformity. Individuals undergo customized treatment for rheumatoid arthritis that would be dependent on many factors such as disease activity, patient’s occupation, types of joints involved, age and general health.

These days numerous treatment options are available for rheumatoid arthritis. Disease-modifying anti rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) become necessary when it’s essential to inhibit or completely halt the underlying immune process and thereby prevent any long-term damage. Analgesia and anti-inflammatory drugs, including steroids, are used to suppress the symptoms in less severe cases. Non-pharmacological treatment for rheumatoid arthritis includes nutritional therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and orthoses. The newer group of biologics has increased treatment options in recent times.

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