What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can cause joint pain and damage throughout your body, making the body weak. It is a chronic inflammatory disease which if left untreated, can spread through numerous body systems including skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels.
The primary reason for the occurrence of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the body is due to a malfunctioning in which the immune system begins to attack the body tissues. Rheumatoid arthritiscauses severe impact like affecting the lining of joints, painful swelling with consequences like bone erosion and joint deformity.
Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Widely prominent all over the world, the RA is a chronic disease which can affect people of the age group of 30 years to 60 years. The signs and symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis become more prominent over time. It ultimately draws the patients to periods of increased disease activity, termed as flares, and periods of remission. As opposed to arthritis, the RA symptoms can affect several organs which can even cause deformity of joints and other body parts.
Symptoms of RA:
The period for signs and symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis visibility may differ from person to person. Some of the prominent symptoms are:
● Stiffness in the joints
● Swelling in the joints
● Causing difficulty in movement
● With the inflammation of the joints, the joints become comparatively warmer
● A noticeable colour change as a result of inflammation
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● Loss of joint function and signs of deformity
● The patient may experience fatigue, fever and loss of appetite
Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
The Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disease in which the immune system of a person begins attacking the synovium. It is the lining of the membranes that surround your joints. Due to the process, there is inflammation in the joint, which creates a thick membrane in the synovium. In due course, it destroys the cartilage and the bone attached to the joint. Thus, Rheumatoid Arthritis causes the weakening of the tendons and ligaments of the joint, making them distort and losing alignment.
Although the exact cause of RA isn’t known, its link with genetic factors is highly probable.
Factors that may increase your risk for RA include:
- Women are more prone to develop rheumatoid arthritis than men
- Though Rheumatoid arthritis has no age bar, its average onset is in between 30-60 years
- If any of the ancestors had rheumatoid arthritis, then you are at a high risk of developing the disease
Factors that may cause the early beginning of RA to involve:
- The exposure to some specific bacteria like the one which causes periodontal diseases
- People having a history of viral infections like Epstein-Barr virus, which causes disease like mononucleosis
- Any prior trauma or injury like bone breakage or fracture, dislocation of a joint, or ligament damage
- Habitual cigarette smokers
- People with a high tendency of obesity
How To Diagnose Rheumatoid Arthritis?
It may be a little complicated to make a Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosis in the early stages. It is because the first stage symptoms are immensely coincidental with multiple other diseases. The doctors have to do several tests for the confirmation of RA. They perform a physical exam of your joints for assessing the condition. The tests include:
- Testing for swelling and redness
- Examination of functioning and motion of joints
- Check for warmth and tenderness of the inflamed joint
- Test for the reflexes and muscle strength of joint
Diet For Rheumatoid Arthritis?
The patients suffering from RA have to follow a strict Rheumatoid Arthritis diet for anti-inflammatory effect. It is essential for the intake of foods that have lots of Omega-3 fatty acids in them. The diet is given below:
1. Foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids include:
- Salmon, Tuna, Herring, Mackerel, etc.
- Chia Seeds
- Flax Seeds
- Walnuts
2. Foods high in antioxidants include:
- Berries, such as Blueberries, Cranberries, Goji Berries, and Strawberries
- Dark Chocolate
- Spinach
- Kidney Beans
- Pecans
- Artichokes
3. Foods containing flavonoids:
- Berries
- Green Tea
- Grapes
- Broccoli
- Soy
Maintaining an anti-inflammatory diet may help to manage your RA as well as reduce the spread to other body parts. Details of the diet for RA can be read from the given link- https://agilusdiagnostics.com/blogs
Blood Tests For Rheumatoid Arthritis
There are numerous types of blood tests for determining RA in a person. The tests are below:
- Rheumatoid factor (RF) test: The RF blood test determines the presence of RF antibodies in the blood of the patient. The rheumatoid factor test cost in India is Rs. 800.
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR): This is a test to determine the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the body. If it is high, it indicates inflammation in joints. The average ESR test cost in India is between Rs. 150 – Rs. 800.
- C-reactive protein test (CRP): The test is essential to indicate the presence of a specific protein that may be the cause of inflammation in joints. The average CRP test cost in India is Rs. 260.
- Antinuclear antibody test (ANA): This is a primary test for determining autoimmune disorders that can harm tissues and other organs. The average antinuclear antibody panel test cost is Rs. 750.
Also Read – Septic Arthritis -Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Although there is no cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis, there is still hope of remission of symptoms. It is only possible with the right treatment. Some of the rheumatoid arthritis treatment methods are:
Treatments for RA include:
- Medications– The doctor may recommend medication depending on the severity of the sign and symptoms of RA. It also depends on the duration of disease.
- Surgery – In the case where medication is not helpful; then the doctor may suggest surgery for repairing the deformed joints.
- Therapy– There is also a method of therapy, in which a therapist would help you in doing exercise which will help in keeping the joints flexible.
- Acupuncture– It assists in easing pain by boosting endorphins, which our body’s natural painkillers.
