Rheumatoid Arthritis is an inflammatory disorder that affects your joints. It is an autoimmune disease that attacks one’s own body and harms it.
People with Rheumatoid Arthritis have a compromised immune system . They tend to fall ill very easily.
Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
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Swelling of joints in your body
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Fatigued and anaemia
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Weak immunity
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Stiffness of joints or weakening of joints
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Rashes or redness on your skin.
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Bone deformity.
Rheumatoid arthritis also affects internal organs in severe cases.It can also cause dryness of mouth, burning sensations on hands and feets etc.Physical deformities are common in such cases. There is no evident cure for this disorder but certain medications can control or reduce the damage done. It affects the lining of joints and causes damage. As a result, inflammation occurs.
Stages of Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Initial stage: At the early stage, rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect the smaller joints of the body. Usually the symptoms occur on the same joints of the body.
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Second stage: At this stage, the larger joints are affected. Redness and rashes occur on the skin. Stiffness occurs in the morning. Due to a compromised immune system, various diseases start to attack the body.
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Severe stage : At this stage, swellings become severe. Bone deformities occur. Bone erosion takes place. The internal organs are also affected.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Rheumatoid Arthritis can be diagnosed by Anti CCP test or several other medical tests. People with rheumatoid Arthritis have higher ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation rate) and c-protein rate. If you have swelling near your joints please visit the doctor.
Treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis includes several advanced drugs such as DMARD therapy that controls the inflammation and reduces the damage.
Cause
Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system attacks the synovial membrane of your joints. The IgM antibodies attack these joints causing wear and tear of the ligaments present in our joints.
Precautions to be taken
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Exercise : Physical activities such as yoga and zumba can help you to stay fit and avoid getting this autoimmune disease.
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Eat healthy : We need to eat healthy, nourishing food to stay healthy. Someone rightly said; we are what we eat. Staying healthy helps us to build a strong immune system to fight any disease.
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Avoid processed food: Processed food is not healthy. This may lead to various illnesses.
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Go on routine checkup: Early diagnosis can help us battle autoimmune disease to some extent. It is advised to visit the doctor once every six months.
Foods to avoid
There are several foods that might increase the inflammation of Rheumatoid Arthritis such as a high sugar diet. This type of diet flares up the inflammation and causes pain. Some of them are as follows:
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Sugar : Studies show that high intake of sugar can increase inflammation. It is advised to cut down the sugar intake to a certain extent.
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Red meat: Red meat is also known to increase inflammation of the joints.
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Trans unsaturated fatty acid: Trans unsaturated fatty acid increases the chances of inflammation in the body.
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Alcohol :Alcohol consumption may increase the inflammation of the body. Some research states that red wine when consumed in moderate amounts can work as anti-inflammatory effects. However it is not proven yet.
Can arthritis be cured?
The answer is no. There is no proper medication in this world that can cure Rheumatoid arthritis. Some drugs can suppress the pain or control the damage to some extent. But there is no cure yet.
Is Rheumatoid Arthritis a genetic disorder?
Yes, Rheumatoid Arthritis can be passed on from parents to their offsprings. But you can have it too. But you can develop this disorder on your own. There is no proper evidence stating that Rheumatoid arthritis is hereditary.
Conclusion
It is highly necessary to raise awareness among people about this disorder. If you have pain in your joints, please visit the doctor and get yourself checked. Early diagnosis can prevent damage and save you from future risks. Myths such as young people cannot have this disorder is a blatant lie. Many young people suffer from this autoimmune disorder. Proper care must be taken to prevent this disease.