Rheumatoid Arthritis: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments

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Rheumatoid Arthritis is considered to be a chronic disorder resulting in inflammation and possible destruction of such organs as skin and lungs. This disease leads to a completely disabling and painful state; it can be the reason for the complete loss of mobility. It is a progressive disease and can lead to serious consequences such as joint destruction and complete disability. It is considered to be a chronic disorder and its causes and symptoms have been thoroughly tested throughout whole its history.

Rheumatoid Arthritis begins to progress in the following three stages:

Synovial lining swelling (it usually causes warmth and sharp pain, redness and joint swelling);
Cells growth (this stage usually leads to the thickening of the synovium and cells division);
The release of enzymes by the inflamed cells. This stage is the most dangerous while it results in the joint’s loss of shape, causes more pain, and can lead to complete disability to move.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is also a systemic disease and it means that it can easily damage all other human organs. In some cases, chronic inflammation can lead to the destruction of bones and cartilage which can cause joints deformity. This disease lasts indefinitely and it is almost impossible to predict it.

Rheumatoid Arthritis researches have shown that early treatment of this disease can limit the damage of joints and decrease working ability. A lot of people try to live with this disease by taking new drugs and experiencing surgery to make their lives not so painful and more mobile. (Shiel, 2008)

It is difficult to identify the real causes of this disease while they are still unknown to the medicine. Different tests were carried out with the help of different infectious agents: bacteria, viruses, and fungi; but these experiments and researches did not show the real causes of the disease.

This topic is still open to physicians from the whole world. There is an opinion that Rheumatoid Arthritis is an inherited disease. Some scientists firmly believe that some particular infections existing in the environment could trigger the human immune system and affect the body’s tissues; this process leads to inflammation of such organs like eyes and lungs. It was found out that the immune system promotes joints inflammation and other organs are affected occasionally.

Lymphocytes which are considered to be immune cells, in such cases are completely activated and express different chemical messengers to the inflamed areas. Scientists state that the environment influences the development of this disease as well. Not so long time ago it was proved that one of the reasons for Rheumatoid Arthritis is smoking tobacco as it damages the lungs and increases the development of the disease in the organism.

Speaking about the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis it is important to underline the fact that they depend on the degree of inflammation. When the stage of inflammation appeared, this disease begins to have an active form in the organism. Inactive stage (remission) of the disease can be observed in case of tissue inflammation being subsided.

The period of remission cannot be exactly identified as it can last weeks, or sometimes even years, but one should note that this stage occurs with some treatment or sometimes spontaneously. Remission brings calm to the patient as the pain usually disappears and the symptoms are not vivid. But when the active stage of the disease begins the patient feels all the symptoms again.

The process when the disease returns in the active stage are named a flare. It is impossible to state how long the treatment or the stage of remission could continue as it is very individual and can completely vary depending on the patient and his health condition.

During the active stage of the disease, the symptoms may appear in the form of stiffness, fatigue, joint aches, fever, and lack of appetite. Such symptoms as muscle stiffness and that of joints can be especially observed after the inactivity period or from the very morning. Rheumatoid Arthritis is usually common in the period of disease flares.

In such cases, the joins turn to be red, tender, and painful. The reason being for this is that the synovium appears to be inflamed leading to joint fluid production. As a result, the patient suffers the thickening of the synovium with inflammation. (Westwood, 2006)

Rheumatoid Arthritis usually affects both body sides; it means that joints are considered to be inflamed symmetrically. The inflammation usually affects even small joints of wrists and hands. As a result, any movements of the patient such as opening the door can be painful and difficult in these periods.

The inflammation involves feet small joints; there are some cases when only one joint appeared to be inflamed. In case one joint is inflamed the disease might mimic the inflammation which was caused by such arthritis forms as joint infection or gout. As it was noted chronic inflammation results in the damage of the bones and cartilage. This disease usually leads to weakness of the muscles and bones, to be more exact of the whole body, and results in erosion. Disability, loss of function, and partial destruction of the organism are the dangerous consequences of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

There are some cases when this disease can affect vocal cords and brings complete changes to the voice tone. The joint affected in such cases is called cricoarytenoid and leads to voice hoarseness. Sometimes people can suffer mouth and eyes inflammation; this syndrome is called Sjogren’s syndrome.

Sometimes Rheumatoid Arthritis is the reason for the sharp chest pain and it causes deep coughing. In some cases the lung can be inflamed; as a result, such form as rheumatoid nodules is developed in the organism. Inflammation of the pericardium in the heart area is also the reason for the chest pain but it can bring changes to its intensity. Rheumatoid Arthritis can also cut the number of cells in the organism both red blood and white blood.

The reduction of the white cells can be the main reason for the infection risk. Nodules which can very frequently occur near fingers and elbows are not to be the reason for the symptoms but there is a risk that they can be infected. One more complication of Rheumatoid Arthritis is closely connected with blood-vessel inflammation. It is important to state that this form is one of the most serious and dangerous. Tissues blood supply can become impaired by vasculitis ad it can result in tissue death. (Vital, 2005)

One of the most important steps in the way to disease treatment is diagnosis. The doctor is to examine the history of the patient’s symptoms and thoroughly test the inflammation of the skin and the whole organism to understand the stage of disease activity. Usually, the patient is x-rayed and blood tested as these findings can clarify the diagnosis made by the doctor.

The patient is to be examined by the doctor several times before making a diagnosis. The doctor should be completely aware of the inflammation distribution, especially in the case of joint inflammation. It is important to know the level of symmetrical inflammation distribution and the number of inflamed joints.

The doctor meets some difficulties in making a diagnosis if only two or even one joint is inflamed. In cases like this, the doctor is to make additional analysis; in most cases, nodules detection near the fingers can help to make a proper diagnosis. According to some statistical data, about 80 % of all the patients suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis have abnormal blood antibodies. Testing blood antibodies is very effective than usual inflammation tests and usually, these results bring the necessary diagnosis.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to cure Rheumatoid Arthritis completely. The main goal of doctors is to decrease the joint inflammation level, reduce pain and prevent deformity and destruction. Modern medicine continues to examine this disease to find some proper drugs or operations for complete treatment.

The usual treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis covers such procedures as joint protection, rest, and some useful exercises for rest and mobility. It is important to underline the fact that usually, the way the patient is treated depends on some factors such as his age, the history of his diseases, and general health. (Wolfe, 1997)

The process of Rheumatoid Arthritis treatment covers two medication classes. They are the following:

Fast-acting;
Slow-acting.

The first class, that is first-line drugs, is usually used at the very beginning of the treatment. It is very important for pain reduction and inflammation decrease. First-line drugs include cortisone and aspirin as they are considered to be the most effective at this stage of disease development.

The second stage of treatment, which is slow acting class, is aimed at disease remission promotion and joint destruction prevention. In this case, methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine are generally used. One should take into account the fact that the level of Rheumatoid Arthritis destructiveness usually depends on the patient’s general condition and his physiology.

Usually to reach more effective in treating patients are to use second-line drugs at an early stage of disease development. But every patient perceives medication differently, and some of the patients may need anti-inflammatory agents together with strong drug doses. There are some cases when Rheumatoid Arthritis develops very actively and that is why doctors use surgery to improve the condition of their patients. (Wright, 2006)

According to the statistical data Rheumatoid Arthritis affects more than 1.3 million people living in the USA. It was researched that this disease is more typical for women and affects them much often than men. It cannot be explained because modern medicine still researches causes and treatments necessary to fight this disease. (Westwood, 2006)

The research carried out provided a clear picture of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Unfortunately, it is impossible to study the cases of its cure because they were not fixed. But it is necessary to highlight the fact that nowadays a lot of international conferences are devoted to the problem of Rheumatoid Arthritis treatment.

It means that people who suffer from this disorder can hope for a better future and possible cure. The technological era covers all fields of modern life, so it would compulsory contribute to the development of new equipment helping in overcoming this disease.

One of the first steps to do for the physicians is to find out the main causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis because it is very difficult and almost impossible to find treatment without knowing the disease origin. The main task of the doctors is to make the lives of their patients suffering the Rheumatoid Arthritis more cloudless and mobile.

References

Shiel, William. Rheumatoid Arthritis History. We Bring Doctor’s Knowledge to You. 2008.

S. Wright, Ware. The treatment of Pain Caused by the Rheumatoid Arthritis. Oxford, 2006.

Vital E., Emery. Advances in the Treatment of early Rheumatoid Arthritis. Am Fam Physician. 2005.

Wolfe F, Mitchell. The Morality of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 1997.

Westwood, Nelson. Rheumatoid Factors: What’s New? Rheumatology, Oxford. 2006.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments

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