Rheumatoid Arthritis - Better Management Through Knowledge

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that affects joints and may affect other systems in your body. As yet, there is no known cure. But recent research means that people with rheumatoid arthritis can have relieving treatment that lessens the pain and discomfort.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects approximately 3% of the population and effects 3 times more women than men. The disease usually develops between the ages of 25 to 50 but can occur really at any age. A similar type of arthritis affects children as well.

Rheumatoid arthritis may develop gradually or can start with an unexpected sudden attack. It is a chronic disease that may last a lifetime. Some people may often have times when the arthritis goes away, this is called a remission. These remissions can last weeks or even years.

What causes rheumatoid arthritis?

Although we know a lot about what happens in rheumatoid arthritis, we do not know the underlying causes. Research has come to the conclusion that triggering agents may cause the onset of the disease only in patients who have a tendency towards the disease. The triggering agent at fault is most likely a virus or bacteria.

If you have a close relative with rheumatoid arthritis, the risk of you developing the disease is a possibility at some time in your life. Diet, stress, trauma, hormones and weather probably do not cause rheumatoid arthritis but these areas may affect the amount of discomfort and pain experienced.

Rheumatoid Arthritis - What Happens?

Rheumatoid arthritis results from the changes in your body's immune system. No one quite understands why but when you have rheumatoid arthritis your body's immune system attacks its own organs and the tissues of the joints. This attack on your immune system makes many different things happen.

• Your joints and synovial membrane that lines them become inflamed


• This causes too much fluid to be produced in your joints


• The fluid and inflammation make your joints swollen and painful


• If this keeps happening your cartilage and other soft tissue can be damaged, causing joint deformities

Other happenings in your body when you have rheumatoid arthritis include:

• anaemia


• small swellings called nodules


• swelling around the eyes, blood vessels and heart


• enlarged lymph glands


• dry eyes and mouth