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  • What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

    What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

    Rheumatoid arthritis is a commonly-occurring autoimmune disorder that often occurs in older patients. RA is caused by the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacking its own tissues and resulting in inflammation.
    In particular, RA attacks the lining of the joints, resulting in stiffness, soreness and joint pain.

    What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

    Arthritis Overview

    Generally speaking, the term arthritis refers to soreness in the joints. There are two major types of arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is caused by repetitive motion and wear-and-tear. Generally speaking, osteoarthritis can be predicted by a patient’s life history, such as the type of work they perform.

    Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disorder and has nothing to do with prior wear and tear. RA can occur in otherwise healthy individuals and cause severe discomfort, joint pain and stiffness.

    Causes

    It’s largely thought that the disease has a genetic component. That’s not to say that the disease spontaneously occurs in patients, though. Typically, something occurs that triggers the disease’s onset. Namely, a few types of viral infection or bacterial diseases, can cause the body to kick on the processes that bring on RA.

    In layman’s terms, RA occurs when the immune system attacks the lining of the body’s joints. This causes the lining to thicken, which results in the cartilage and bone within the joint being stressed. Over time, the bone and cartilage will be destroyed, putting stress on the ligaments and tendons that hold the joint together.

    Symptoms

    Common symptoms of RA include joint stiffness, tender and swollen joints and loss of appetite. Other symptoms could include fatigue, fever and damage of other parts of the body as the disease progresses. Joint stiffness in RA patients tends to be stronger in the mornings after sleeping or after periods of inactivity.

    Progression

    Generally speaking, RA first manifests in the smaller joints, such as fingers, wrists, ankles and toes. However, as the disease spreads and progressively becomes worse, it will manifest in the shoulders, knees, elbows and hips.

    RA is what is referred to as a progressive disease. There is no cure for the condition, and it will progress indefinitely until the end of the patient’s life. While treatments exist that can slow the disease’s progress, none of these treatments will completely halt it.

    Treatments

    Common treatments for RA include medications, exercise, dietary changes and physical therapy. Generally speaking, when addressed soon enough, the disease can be slowed dramatically. Physical therapy, when combined with the right diet and medications, can slow the disease by a large margin.


  • What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

    What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

    Rheumatoid arthritis is a commonly-occurring autoimmune disorder that often occurs in older patients. RA is caused by the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacking its own tissues and resulting in inflammation.

    In particular, RA attacks the lining of the joints, resulting in stiffness, soreness and joint pain.

    What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

    Arthritis Overview

    Generally speaking, the term arthritis refers to soreness in the joints. There are two major types of arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is caused by repetitive motion and wear-and-tear. Generally speaking, osteoarthritis can be predicted by a patient’s life history, such as the type of work they perform.

    Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disorder and has nothing to do with prior wear and tear. RA can occur in otherwise healthy individuals and cause severe discomfort, joint pain and stiffness.

    Causes

    It’s largely thought that the disease has a genetic component. That’s not to say that the disease spontaneously occurs in patients, though. Typically, something occurs that triggers the disease’s onset. Namely, a few types of viral infection or bacterial diseases, can cause the body to kick on the processes that bring on RA.

    In layman’s terms, RA occurs when the immune system attacks the lining of the body’s joints. This causes the lining to thicken, which results in the cartilage and bone within the joint being stressed. Over time, the bone and cartilage will be destroyed, putting stress on the ligaments and tendons that hold the joint together.

    Symptoms

    Common symptoms of RA include joint stiffness, tender and swollen joints and loss of appetite. Other symptoms could include fatigue, fever and damage of other parts of the body as the disease progresses. Joint stiffness in RA patients tends to be stronger in the mornings after sleeping or after periods of inactivity.

    Progression

    Generally speaking, RA first manifests in the smaller joints, such as fingers, wrists, ankles and toes. However, as the disease spreads and progressively becomes worse, it will manifest in the shoulders, knees, elbows and hips.

    RA is what is referred to as a progressive disease. There is no cure for the condition, and it will progress indefinitely until the end of the patient’s life. While treatments exist that can slow the disease’s progress, none of these treatments will completely halt it.

    Treatments

    Common treatments for RA include medications, exercise, dietary changes and physical therapy. Generally speaking, when addressed soon enough, the disease can be slowed dramatically. Physical therapy, when combined with the right diet and medications, can slow the disease by a large margin.

  • Top Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments

    Top Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments

    Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is a disease that affects the joints and bones of those afflicted. Swelling and warmth are normal symptoms, and aches in the joints are the most common problem experienced by those with RA.

    If you’re looking for the top treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, we’ve rounded up some of the most common treatments here. Remember, however, that there is no cure for RA, though there are ways to soften the symptoms.

    Top Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments

    Steroids

    If your RA symptoms are severe, your doctor could prescribe you steroids.  Corticosteroid medicines like prednisone have been shown to reduce inflammation and slow the rate at which joints become damaged by arthritis.

    Doctors don’t prescribe steroids in all cases. There are side effects that could occur, like weight gain and the thinning of bones, that are of notable concern. Generally, steroids are prescribed for short-term use, tapering off as the most severe symptoms abate.

    NSAIDs

    Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are a common treatment for arthritis. These drugs are usually available for inexpensive prices and can be picked up in any drugstore. Over-the-counter NSAIDs, like Tylenol and Ibuprofen, can be taken daily for normal aches and pains. They’re generally not dangerous as long as you take them only as directed.

    While NSAIDs can have negative effects on the liver over long periods of time, they’re generally considered pretty safe. Speak with your doctor about taking over-the-counter NSAIDs if you’re worried about their potential long-term effects on your health.

    DMARDs

    Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are a form of medicine that can slow the progress of RA. These medicines tend to prevent joint damage by slowing the progress of the disease considerably. DMARDs are not available over the counter and have to be prescribed.

    Common DMARDs, like leflunomide, methotrexate and sulfasalazine are prescribed in some cases. Doctors have to keep the side effects of these medicines in mind when they prescribe them. Their side effects can include bone marrow suppression, severe lung infections and liver damage. These potential side effects must be weighed against the severity of RA that the patient is dealing with,

    A newer form of DMARDs, called biologic agents, have become more prevalent in recent years. These drugs work by targeting the parts of the immune system that cause the inflammation of joints. Biologic agents also have side effects that include increasing the risk of infection, since they target the body’s own immune system.