Fundamental Information On Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
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Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder or an autoimmune disease that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks synovial joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can also cause inflammation of the tissue around the joints. The pathology of the disease process often leads to the destruction of articular cartilage and ankylosis of the joints. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the body's tissues are mistakenly attacked by their own immune system.
Rheumatoid arthritis can also produce diffuse inflammation in the lungs, pericardium, pleura, and sclera, and also nodular lesions, most common in subcutaneous tissue under the skin. Although the cause of rheumatoid arthritis is still a mystery, autoimmunity plays a pivotal role in both its chronicity and progression.
Although infectious agents like the viruses, fungi and bacteria have been suspected for a long time, none of them are yet to be proven as the cause which is still a mystery. It has also been long suspected that certain factors or infections in the environment, which might for instance include smoking, trigger the activation of the immune system in susceptible individuals causing rheumatoid arthritis.
The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are manifold. They keep coming and going depending on the degree of tissue inflammation. While active, the symptoms can include muscle and joint aches, stiffness, loss of energy, fatigue, low-grade fever and lack of appetite. The muscle and joint stiffness are very notable in the mornings and after any long periods of inactivity.
There is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis. To date, the goal of treatment in rheumatoid arthritis is to reduce joint inflammation and pain, maximize joint function, and prevent joint destruction and deformity. Treatment is customized according to many factors such as disease activity, types of joints involved, general health, age, and patient occupation.
Various treatments are available. Non-pharmacological treatment includes physical therapy, orthoses, occupational therapy and nutritional therapy. Analgesia (painkillers) and anti-inflammatory drugs, including steroids, are used to suppress the symptoms, while disease-modifying anti rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are often required to inhibit or halt the underlying immune process and prevent long-term damage. In recent times, the newer group of biologics has increased treatment options.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
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