Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is usually an autoimmune disease that causes pain and inflammation of one's joints. Other parts of one's body can be affected. Inflammation causes the joints to turn into painful and swollen and movement can be restricted. Stiffness among the joints is common, especially after you get up. The inflammation because of rheumatoid arthritis can result in damage to the joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis usually starts in middle life, with onset generally occurring between the ages of 35 to 64, and affects 2.5 percent of Australia s population. Roughly 57 percent of persons with rheumatoid arthritis are women.
Indicators of rheumatoid arthritis




Some of the most common warning signs of rheumatoid arthritis include:

Swelling, pain as well as heat among the joints
Stiffness among the joints, especially after you get up
Persistent fatigue
Sleeping troubles on account of pain
Weak muscles
The same joints on both sides of one's body are generally affected.

Seek advice soon
It is essential to seek health advice early in the path of the condition. Early treatment might help you manage pain more effectively and minimise long-term joint damage.

Any person who experiences pain and swelling available as one or maybe more joints should discuss this with their doctor. For anybody who is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis or suspected with having the condition, you may well be known as a medical specialist termed as rheumatologist.

An levelof immunity strike
The source or reasons for rheumatoid arthritis are not yet fully understood. We do are aware that rheumatoid arthritis is usually an autoimmune disease. The healthy role of one's body s levelof immunity usually wear off infections, however when a person has an autoimmune disease, your immunity starts attacking the body’s healthy tissues.

For rheumatoid arthritis, your immunity targets the liner of one's joints, causing inflammation and joint damage. The characteristic swelling happens when the joint produces far too much lubricating (synovial) fluid as a result of practicing this the inflammation.

Many individuals can be more susceptible to developing rheumatoid arthritis on account of heredity factors. Exactly what triggers the body s levelof immunity to attack the joints is unknown.

There's hardly any cure for rheumatoid arthritis. However, there are a lot of strategies you need to use to cope with the condition and your symptoms.

Managing rheumatoid arthritis

To deal with rheumatoid arthritis it can be beneficial to understand the nature of one's disease. Self-management courses can help sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis and also other chronic (ongoing) conditions to construct their skills and confidence to live on along with the condition. Arthritis Victoria can offer more information on these courses.

Other important tactics that can assist you manage rheumatoid arthritis include:

Medication  a rheumatologist may prescribe some medications counting on your symptoms and the severity of those condition. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are generally prescribed to decrease pain and inflammation. The disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) undoubtedly are a special group of medications utilized treat inflammatory arthritis. Biological DMARDs are classified as the newest division of arthritis medication and seek to stop the disease progressing and causing structural damage to joints.
Aids and equipment  supports an example would be walking aids and specialised cooking utensils reduce joint strain which can permit you to manage pain and fatigue. An occupational therapist can give you information on aids.
Relaxation techniques  muscle relaxation, distraction, guided imagery and also other techniques can assist you manage pain and difficult emotions an example would be anxiety.
Exercise  some body movement might help you maintain muscle strength and joint flexibility and assist you and your friends managing pain. Appropriate activities include exercising in warm water, weight training and Taiji quan. You may want to seek advice from a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist in advance of starting a workout program.
Physiotherapy a physiotherapist can offer information on managing pain and on body movement.
Rest  rest can assist you to cope with fatigue and is actually particularly significant when your joints are swollen.
Nutrition – while there is no specific ‘diet’ with rheumatoid arthritis, it is essential to feature a healthy, balanced diet to maintain general health and stop other medical problems.
Support  a peer association can offer understanding, advice, support and knowledge from others within the similar situation. Contact Arthritis Victoria to find out more.
Complementary therapies an example would be massage or acupuncture can be helpful. Talk to your doctor or rheumatologist before commencing any treatment.
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