Rheumatoid Arthritis Facts

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Article Title:

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Facts

Article Description:

====================

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder that

attacks the joints. It can be chronic and affect more than one

system. This means that other parts of your body can be involved.

This article addresses the symptoms, progression, diagnosis and

treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis.

Additional Article Information:

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432 Words; formatted to 65 Characters per Line

Distribution Date and Time: 2009-02-26 12:12:00

Written By: Q

Copyright: 2009

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Facts

Copyright © 2009 Q

Treatment of Arthritis

http://www.treatment-of-arthritis.com

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder that

attacks the joints. It can be chronic and affect more than one

system. This means that other parts of your body can be involved.

It can deteriorate and deform joints. Plus it will cause a great

deal of pain and loss of movement. This disease can attack

anybody between 20 and 40 years and can be genetic. It is known

to be 4 times more common in smokers and 3 times more common in

women.

Symptoms: The symptoms are different from other forms of

arthritis. This is because not only single joints are affected

but soft tissue swelling and inflammation of several joints are

simultaneously attacked by this disease. This condition is termed

as polyarthritis. Initially the joints are affected

asymmetrically. The pain is different from other common forms of

arthritis as it will move around, depending on which joints are

being used.

Progression: As the problem progresses the inflammation

associated with it will wear away and destroy the joints. This in

turn will lead to deformity of the joints, making them twist into

unnatural shapes. There are a number of terms used for different

deformities like; Boutonnière deformity, swan neck and “Z thumb

deformities.

Other problems associated with Rheumatoid arthritis: Rheumatoid

arthritis affects many areas of the body and gives rise to other

diseases and problems. One of the most common problems is anemia.

Splenomegaly, enlargement of the spleen, is another complaint

associated with Rheumatoid arthritis. Due to different treatments

and the disease itself fibrosis can sometimes occur in the lungs.

A general feeling of being unwell is often associated with flare

ups of this disease.

Diagnosis: When diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis there are a

number of points to take into consideration:

* Stiffness in the morning that persists longer than one hour:

With other forms of arthritis stiffness will wear off after you

move around for an hour or so.

* Having arthritis and soft tissue swelling in multiple joints:

Other forms of arthritis often affect one joint at a time.

* Hands, and small joints are the most commonly affected

* subcutaneous nodules

* having a rheumatoid factor level above 95

* Radiology results showing joint erosion

If you have 4 or more of these factors it is very likely that you

are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

Treatment: Standard treatment of rheumatoid arthritis includes

the use of antirheumatic medicines commonly known as DMARDS.

These drugs will help to give remissions so that the disease is

slowed down and less joint damage occurs. Anti inflammatory

medicines and analgesics are also used to lesson the discomfort

of this devastating disease.

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Q is a professional writer and the author

of several articles on health and wellness.

For more information on arthritis treatments,

please visit http://www.treatment-of-arthritis.com

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