The Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease

Rheumatoid arthritis, other wise known as rheumatoid disease, is the disease which causes the chronic inflammation among the joints, tissue around the joints or the other organs in the body. The body’s tissues are attacked by the body’s own immune system in an autoimmune disease. This chronic illness can last for a long time or years. However, the patient may not identify the symptoms for a long time. This is a progressive illness, which has the capability to cause the destruction of the joints and their normal functioning.

The rheumatoid arthritis will cause the joint inflammation, which includes the swelling, stiffness, redness, and pain in the joints of the body. There can also be some inflammations in the tissues around the joints like the ligaments, muscles, tendons etc.

For some people this disease can also make some damage with the bone, ligaments and cartilage, which will worsen the problems in the joints. The problems in the joints will occur in the initial stage of the disease and it will increase with time. Nevertheless, the progression of the damage in the disease may not be shown with its actual density, with the aspects of the pain or swelling.

The reasons of this disease remain unknown. Several studies are being conducted in order to know the reason of this disease. The chance to get the disease can be hereditary too. For the people who are more likely to get rheumatoid arthritis, can get it from some infections or several other factors in the environment. Such people will have the immune system which is likely to cause damage up on the own body tissues. This can also promote the damage to other body parts like lungs, eyes, etc. The factors like smoking and the pollution in the environment can all develop and worsen rheumatoid arthritis.

Usually the symptoms or signs of this disease may come and go according to the intensity of the tissue inflammation. When the disease is active or over active, inflammations in the tissues will be there. The lessening of the disease may also last for either weeks and months or years. During that period, the patient will also feel that he is in good health. But when there is a return of the disease, the symptoms also comes back and this is known as flare. Other symptoms include loss of energy, loss of appetite, fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, low fever etc. The stiffness in the joints and muscles will be most prominent in the morning and after the period of the reduction. Some times, there may be the inflammation only in one of the joints. Even the simple daily chores may seem much difficult for the patients to do.

This disease can be diagnosed with the blood test and x-rays, and it is better to consult a rheumatologist for the diagnosis and the treatments. When doing the diagnosis, the results may differ according to the difference in the stages of the disease. Though there are no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis, the medications, exercises, surgery etc can be given and prevent the disease to a certain extent.