Definition of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can also cause inflammation of tissues around the joints, as well as on other organs in the body. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when body tissues are in vain (mistaken) is attacked by its own immune system. The immune system is a complex organization of cells and antibodies are created as normal to find and eradicate the invaders of the body, particularly infections. Patients with autoimmune diseases have antibodies in their blood that target their own body tissues, where they can be associated with inflammation. Because it can affect various organs of the body, rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a systemic illness and is sometimes called rheumatoid disease.
When rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease, meaning it can take place yearly, patients may experience long periods without symptoms. Typically, however, rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive disease that could potentially lead to joint destruction and functional disability.
A joint is where two bones meet to allow movement of body parts. Arthritis means joint inflammation. Joint inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis causes swelling, pain, stiffness, and redness in the joints. The inflammation of rheumatoid disease can also occur in tissues around the joints, such as tendons, ligaments, and muscles.
In some patients with rheumatoid arthritis, chronic inflammation leads to destruction of cartilage (cartilage), bone, and ligaments, causing deformity of the joints. Damage to joints can occur early in the disease and may be progressive. Moreover, studies have shown that progressive damage to the joints does not necessarily correlate with the degree of pain, stiffness, or swelling is present in the joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a rheumatic disease (rheumatic) are common, affecting approximately 1.3 million people in America, according to current census data. This disease is three times more common in women than in men. It causes pain in people of all races are alike. The disease can begin at any age, but it most often starts after age 40 years and before age of 60 years. In some families, multiple members can be affected, suggesting a genetic basis for this disorder.
Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis
The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. Although infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi have long been suspected, none has been proven as the cause. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is a very active research area worldwide. Some scientists believe that the tendency to develop rheumatoid arthritis may be derived / inherited genetically. Suspected that certain infections or factors in the environment may trigger the immune system to attack the body's own tissues, resulting in inflammation of various organs like the lungs or eyes.
Regardless of the exact trigger, the result is an immune system that is prepared to promote inflammation in the joints and sometimes other tissues of the body. Immune cells, called lymphocytes, are activated and the runner-runner (messenger) chemicals (cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor / TNF and interleukin-1/IL-1) is expressed in areas of inflammation.
Environmental factors also seem to play some role in causing rheumatoid arthritis. Lately, scientists have reported that smoking increases the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
Symptoms And Signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis
The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis come and go, depending on the degree of tissue inflammation. When body tissues are inflamed, the disease is active. When tissue inflammation subsided / subside, the disease is inactive (in remission). Remissions can occur spontaneously or with treatment, and can last for weeks, months, or years. During remissions, symptoms of disease disappear, and patients generally feel well. When the disease is active again (relapse), symptoms return. The return of disease activity and symptoms is called a flare. The journey of rheumatoid arthritis varies from patient to patient, and periods of flares and remissions are typical.
When the disease is active, symptoms can include fatigue, loss of appetite, low grade fever, muscle aches and joint pain, and stiffness. Muscle and joint stiffness may be most noticeable in the morning and after periods of inactivity. Arthritis is common during disease flares. Also during flares, joints frequently become red, swollen, sore, and sensitive. This occurs because the tissue lining of the joints (synovium) becomes inflamed, resulting in the production of joint fluid (synovial fluid) is excessive. Synovium also thickens with inflammation (synovitis).
In rheumatoid arthritis, multiple joints are usually inflamed in a symmetrical pattern (both sides of the body affected). Small joints of both hands and wrists are often involved. Jobs daily life easier, such as turning door knobs and opening jars can become difficult during flares. Small joints of the feet are also typically involved. Occasionally, only one joint is inflamed. When only one joint is involved, the arthritis can mimic the joint inflammation caused by other forms of arthritis, such as gout or joint infection. Chronic inflammation can cause damage to body tissues, cartilage (cartilage) and bone. This leads to a loss of cartilage and erosion and weakness of the bones and muscles as well, resulting in deformity, destruction, and loss of joint function. Rarely, rheumatoid arthritis can even affect the joint responsible for the tightening our vocal cords to change the tone of our voice, cricoarytenoid joint. When joints are inflamed, it can cause voice hoarseness.
Because rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease, the inflammation can affect organs and areas of the body other than joints. Inflammation of the glands eyes and mouth can cause dryness of these areas and are referred to as Sjogren's syndrome. Rheumatoid inflammation of the lining / coating lungs (pleuritis) causes chest pain with deep breathing or coughing. Lung tissue itself can also be inflamed, and sometimes knots (nodules) inflammation (rheumatoid nodules) develop within the lungs. Inflammation of the tissue / membrane surrounding the heart (pericardium), called pericarditis, can cause a chest pain that typically changes in intensity when lying down or leaning forward. Rheumatoid disease can reduce the number of red blood cells (anemia) and white blood cells. White cells that can be associated with a reduced enlarged spleen (referred to as Felty's syndrome) and may increase the risk of infections. Hard lumps under the skin (rheumatoid nodules) can occur around the elbows and fingers where there is often pressure. Even though these nodules usually do not cause symptoms, sometimes they can become infected. A serious complication is rare, usually with rheumatoid disease is longstanding, is an inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis). Vasculitis can damage the blood supply to tissues and lead to tissue death. This is most often initially visible as black areas are very small about the basics of nail or as leg ulcers.
Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis
The first step in diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis is a meeting between doctor and patient. Doctors review the history of these symptoms, check the sensi-joints for inflammation and deformity, the skin for rheumatoid nodules, and other parts of the body for inflammation. Blood tests and X-ray may often be obtained. The diagnosis will be based on the pattern of symptoms, distribution from the inflamed joints, and the discoveries of blood and x-ray. Some visits may be needed before doctors became uncertain of the diagnosis. A doctor with special training in arthritis and diseases associated with it called a rheumatologist.
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