Rheumatoid Arthritis- Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Do you wake up daily with stiff and painful joints? This means you have rheumatoid arthritis, a disorder that causes inflammation and severe to mild pains in joints. The doctors term it as an auto-immune condition caused when the immune system attacks the body’s healthy tissues.

Generally, RA starts in adults and is most common in older people. This joint condition can be cured through various treatment methods like medicines, therapy and home remedies. If you feel pain or stiffness of joints regularly, do not ignore it; consult a physician and treat it immediately.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic auto-immune disorder that affects your joints. The immune system goes awry and attacks your body's healthy cells, which results in severe pain in joints. It generally starts with hands and feet, but if ignored, it can damage other parts and organs of the body.

RA mainly affects the joints in the hands, wrists and knees. Signs of rheumatoid arthritis include –

• Pain, ache and stiffness of joints.
• Swelling around the affected area.
• Same symptoms on both sides of your body can be observed.
• Deformity and abnormal functioning of joints.
• Weakness and fatigue.
• Fever with low temperatures.
• Loss of appetite.

There are mainly three types of RA, they are –

Seropositive RA

An individual whose blood consists of a specific protein, RF (Rheumatic Factor), may develop RA. A family history of positive RF also increases the risk by four times.

Seronegative RA

People who have negative RF and anti-CCP blood have milder RA than those who tested positive.

Juvenile RA

It is the most common type of RA found in children below 17 years. Symptoms are similar to adult RA but can hinder a child’s growth and development.

According to the researchers, women are more susceptible to rheumatoid arthritisthan men. Other characteristics that increase the risk factors of RA are as follows -

• RA can occur regardless of age but is more common among people in their sixties.
• People born with HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen), a specific gene, are more susceptible to show symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
• Smoking also increases the risk of RA.
• Women who have no history of live births can be exposed to the risk of RA.
• An obese person is at a higher risk of developing RA.
• Consuming high sodium, sugar and iron content food can develop RA.

You cannot cure rheumatoid arthritis but it can be treated to prevent further complications. Medication, home remedies, exercises and dietary changes are types of treatment that one is prescribed.

1. Medication

Some drugs relieve pain and inflammation while others slow down the condition's progression.

• NSAIDs – Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and inflammation.
• Corticosteroids – Drugs that reduce pain, inflammation, and slow down joint damage.
• Conventional DMARD’s – These disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) slow down the progress of RA and save joints and tissues from permanent damage.
• Biologic Agents – New-gen DMARDs or artificial versions of proteins that target inflammation instead of blocking the immune system.
• Targeted Synthetic DMARDs – This drug contains higher doses of Bio-DMARD’s. Given only in rare cases where the patient’s body does not respond to other medications.

2. Home Remedies

A person diagnosed with RA can take some home remedies to improve quality of life.

• Exercise – Some low-impact exercises can improve mobility of joints and strengthen muscles.
• Get Enough Sleep – Get enough rest to reduce inflammation, pain and fatigue.
• Apply Heat and Cold – Alternate ice packs and hot bags to help relieve muscle spasms and stiffness.

3. Therapy

A doctor may prescribe physiotherapy sessions to help you learn certain exercises or use assistive devices to slow down the progression of RA.

4. Surgery

If medications fail surgery may be required to prevent or slow down the damage of joints. The surgeries include –

• Synovectomy
• Tendon repair
• Joint fusion
• Total joint replacement

To prevent RA, specific measures can be taken, which includes –

• Avoid or quit smoking.
• Limit alcohol intake.
• Improve your oral health.
• Avoid long term use of glucocorticoids.
• Increase fish and reduce red meat intake.
• Maintain a healthy body weight ratio.
• Exercise regularly.

RA can bring a lot of other health complications like – 

• Chest pain and premature heart disease.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Interstitial lung disease.
• Pulmonary fibrosis.
• Eye conditions like Uveitis and scleritis.
• Inflammation of the blood vessels
• Cervical myelopathy.
• Pneumonia.
• Gastrointestinal haemorrhage.
• Pancytopenia.
• Lymphoma.