Rheumatoid Arthritis: Symptoms=

                                                           

When the immune system goes awry and attacks the joints, it results in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This disorder can cause significant pain and joint deformity by wearing away joint linings. It is a chronic, debilitating condition that has no cure, and it affects about 1.5 million people in the United States, according to the Arthritis Foundation. 

Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis

                                

Even though it is supposed to be caused by certain viruses, bacteria, and fungi, it has not been proved yet. Research has linked it to genetics as well. It is also reported that certain factors in the environment might trigger the immune system to attack body’s own tissues. Medical scholars have also pointed out that some environmental factors, for example smoking tobacco can develop rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

1) The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis keep on varying with time, depending on the extent of tissue inflammation. The health problem is active when body tissues are inflamed. And when tissue inflammation vanishes, the health problem is inactive. 

2) Remissions can last for weeks or months. The patient does not see symptoms of the health problem, and may feel well. The symptoms return when the health problem becomes active.

3) Patient may experience fatigue, lack of appetite, low fever, and pain in muscle joints during flares. Normally, stiffness is realized in morning hours after periods of inactivity. Also joints often become red, swollen, and painful.

4) Routine tasks such as opening a jar can become difficult during flares. Chronic inflammation can cause damage to body tissues, and bones. 

5) This leads to weakness of bones as well as the muscles, resulting in joint deformity, and even loss of function. Sometimes, though rarely, rheumatoid arthritis can even affect the joint that is responsible for tightening our vocal cords, causing a hoarse voice.

6) The inflammation can affect organs and areas of the body other than the joints. Inflammation of glands of eyes and mouth can cause dryness of these. Rheumatoid inflammation of lung lining causes chest pain while breathing or coughing.

7) Long standing rheumatoid disease may lead to a rare, serious complication – blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis). 

8) It impairs blood supply to tissues leading to tissue death. This is initially visible as tiny black areas around the nail beds or as leg ulcers.