Rheumatoid Arthritis – Causes, Management, Treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis strikes roughly 1 percent of the world’s population. It is a chronic inflammatory disease, characterized by the inflammation of the lining, or synovium, of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is also an autoimmune disease, which suggests that the immune system malfunctions and attacks healthy tissues within the body just like it does with foreign pathogens. Rheumatoid arthritis inflammation chiefly damages the soft tissues of the joints, however, the membrane linings of the blood vessels, heart and lungs may also become inflamed.

The joints within the feet and hands are most often attacked by rheumatoid arthritis, but any soft tissue inside a joint could be involved. Medicine can manage the inflammation; if the inflammation isn’t managed, malformation of the joints can result. It often leads to joint damage over the long-term, resulting in chronic pain, lost mobility and disability.

There are 3 stages of rheumatoid arthritis. The initial stage begins with the inflammation of the synovial lining, producing pain, warmth, stiffness, redness and swelling around the affected joints. The second phase is the rapid growth and division of cells, or pannus, which causes the thickening of the synovium. By the third phase, the inflamed cells release enzymes that bone and cartilage can absorb causing the affected joint to produce more tenderness, deformity and loss of movement.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients endure cycles of severe and light symptoms. The following are symptoms and effects of rheumatoid arthritis:

- Joint swelling in the small joints of the feet and hands – Joint tenderness, stiffness, and throbbing especially in the morning – Calcified bony protrusions in joints – Cartilage and bone destruction

Rheumatoid arthritis can have a significant effect on a person’s life and health, especially if it is not diagnosed and treated early. Getting the right diagnosis early on is essential as it helps you start the correct treatment right away thus providing you with a greater opportunity to avoid disability and deformity.

It’s always recommended to check with a medical doctor about the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. With the correct diagnosis, you can take control of the disease with the proper medication. Doctors have many ways to treat this disease, the purpose of which is to take away pain, decrease inflammation, slow down or stop joint damage, help people feel better, and help people stay active.

Currently, the precise cause of the disease is unidentified, although there are many theories, like abnormal autoimmune response, genetic susceptibility, and some environmental reasons. Scientists are well on their way to deciphering the events that lead to abnormal responses of the body’s immune system. And while there isn’t any cure, managing the disease through the use of new drugs, exercise, joint protection techniques and self-management techniques have been used by patients to have happier, healthier and more productive lives.

The author suffered with arthritis for seven years before he discovered the rheumatoid arthritis diet. After researching several versions of arthritis diets and trying different methods, he discovered what really works and wrote The Amazing Arthritis Diet.

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