Arthritis Essay

Rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints in the wrists and knuckles, though it may occur in any joint. It spreads throughout the body and damages connective tissues and organs. It will eventually, if unchecked, stiffen the joints in deformed positions. In this disease inflamed tissues erode the bones and cartilage.

Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA) is the most common type of autoimmune arthritis. RA is a progressive and debilitating musculoskeletal disorder that affects the joints symmetrically, causing a range of systemic effects. What it causes is still not well known; nevertheless, findings of new research points towards a believe that it is triggered by a defective immune system, which causes the release of inflammatory chemicals. These chemicals cause damage to cartilage and bone, usually affecting the wrists, the joints of the hand, including the knuckles, the middle joints of the fingers and feet. While this condition can affect any joints, besides, important body organs such as the eyes and the lungs can also be affected by the inflammation that occurs as a result of this chronic condition. Only in America 1.3 million of people are affected by this ailment, and 75 % of them are mainly women. Its onset usually occurs between fourth and sixth decades; however, RA can occur at any age("Diseases And

Rheumatoid Arthritis has been subject of numerous studies and researches in the look for a better understanding of how it effects the individuals diagnosed with it. There is a higher incident of females diagnosed with RA than male as well as a relationship with genetic and environmental factors involved. Around one percent of the world population is affected by RA; therefore, diverse studies have been performed to understand how the lives of the diagnosed patients can be impacted by the disease. For example, how RA affects the mobility, safety and activities of daily living in general as well as the development of interventions to better approach RA. On

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic syndrome that is characterized by inflammation of the peripheral joints, but it may also involve the lungs, heart, blood vessels, and eyes. The prevalence of this autoimmune disease is between 0.3% to 1.5% of the population in the United States (Feinberg, pp 815). It affects women two to three times more often than men, and the onset of RA is usually between 25 and 50 years of age, but it can occur at any age (Reed, pp 584). RA can be diagnosed by establishing the presence of persistent joint pain, swelling in a symmetric distribution, and prolonged morning stiffness. RA usually affects multiple joints, such as the hands, wrists, knees, elbows, feet, shoulders, hips, and small

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease which causes inflammation on joints leading to disability. The deterioration is caused by constant attack in the synovium leading to synovial cells to a rough and grainy tissue eventually allowing the bones to crumble away. The disease currently has no cure and scientists are thriving to find a target specifically aiming at the bones.

“Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of chronic arthritis that occurs in joints on both sides of the body, such as both hands, both wrists, or both knees. This symmetry helps distinguish rheumatoid arthritis from other types of arthritis”. If a joint is deemed as arthritic that means that there is inflammation within the joint. Inflammation within a joint can cause swelling, redness, warmth and pain within that joint. Rheumatoid arthritis primarily affects the joints, but may also affect the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, blood, or nerves. Rheumatoid arthritis can present itself in many different ways. For some, joint symptoms develop gradually over several years, while others may develop quickly. Some people are affected by rheumatoid arthritis for a short

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. normally the body’s immune system attacks and protects the body against foreign substance, with RA the immune system accidently attacks the joints. When the joints are mistakenly attacked inflammation occurs which causes the tissues to thicken thus resulting in pain and swelling of the joints. When this inflammation is undetected damage to the cartilage can occur, when this happens the spacing between the bones become smaller, the joints may become loose, painful, unstable and may also lose their mobility and deformity of the joints can occur.

may become more and more difficult. It is important to treat and diagnose rheumatoid arthritis as soon as possible. The joint damage of rheumatoid arthritis is not just progressive, but is hidden. The amount of joint damage increases quickly. The synovial membrane thickens and accumulates synovial fluid, which can cause pain and tenderness in the peripheral joints. The membrane then produces an abnormal granulation tissue called pannus.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that is characterised by the inflammation of the joints, often accompanied by deformities. Moreover, rheumatoid arthritis is a gradual condition, developing over several months and years. Furthermore, diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis the moment its symptoms appear is vital for its treatment and prevention. Considering the fact that rheumatoid arthritis has no exact cause and no known cure, many people are participating in rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials.

Although life bestows upon everyone various challenges, a patient suffering with rheumatoid arthritis has a grim and debilitating existence. Thus, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis that produces pain, inflammation, stiffness, redness, tenderness, and extreme deformity of many joints of the human body. Thus, everyday activities pose a significant obstacle for a patient with this enervating condition. Surprisingly, most people RA lead highly productive, full, and rather satisfying lives. Consequently, there are is an estimated two to three million Americans diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and about 200,000 newly diagnosed cases annually. Therefore, about 1 percent of the population has this condition, which affects people of all races and nationalities in this country. Even though, citizens at all stages in life can develop rheumatoid arthritis, it is most commonly touches people in their twenties, thirties, and forties. Nevertheless, research reveals that RA is three times more prevalent in women populace than men (Shlotzhauer and Hoplans 2014). Therefore, this brief research will disclose the definition of Rheumatoid Arthritis, patient prevalence, diagnosis, prognosis, and what patients experience that suffers with this condition.

Rheumatic arthritis (RA) is a chronic, progressive disorder that commonly presents a group of mechanically related disorders concerning the degenerative nature of joints that is specifically affecting the articular cartilage and subchondral bone (1). Thus, causing a dip in the quality of life in RA patients. The aetiology for RA is unclear, however, a combination of hereditary susceptibility causes a reaction that causes severe inflammation in the synovial membrane (1). However, other factors such as the immunological, hormonal and environmental factors plays a role in development of RA (2). The pathology of RA is characterised by an insidious order of biological events that will eventually lead to articular cartilage destruction and secondary changes in surrounding tissues (1). The pathological changes to joints consequently lead to structural deformity and functional disability. The clinical presentation of RA patients are often intermittent joint pain, worse on movement; stiffness; and, limited range of motion (ROM) and joint instability, either due to loss of articular cartilage, or effusions into the joint cavity (1-3).

People have long feared rheumatoid arthritis (commonly called RA) as one of the most disabling types of arthritis. The good news is that the outlook has greatly improved for many people with newly diagnosed and detected RA. Of course, RA remains a serious disease, and one that can vary widely in symptoms and outcomes. Even so, treatment advances have made it possible to stop or at least slow the worsening of joint damage. Rheumatologists now have many new treatments that target the inflammation that RA causes. They also understand better when and how to use treatments to get the best effects.

Presentation. Patient diagnosed with RA may have medical history of periodontitis, smoking, genetic predisposition, nulliparous, and family history of RA. Genetics may account for approximately 60% of risk associated with RA. Smoking has been the only confirmed environmental trigger for RA. Genes that affect the immune system may make some people more prone to getting RA. Physical symptoms upon exam may be subtle such as achy joints or morning stiffness. Other symptoms may include swelling, tenderness, limitation of joint movement, joint deformity, and warmth of involved joints. Less common presenting factors include fever, weight loss, and lyphadenopathy. Muscle atrophy could present near affected joints along with disproportionate weakness. Cutaneous findings are common and may include nodules with ulcers or petechia, purpura, or nodular erythema related to vascultitis. RA usually starts to affect small joints in the fingers, balls of the feet, and the wrists bilaterally. As disease progresses, RA can affect any joint, causing permanent damage, and even lead to systemic damage. Extraarticular manifestations may include anemia, pericarditis, Raynaud’s, interstitial lung disease, scleritis, neuropathy, pleuritis, lynphadenopathy, and splenomegaly. Initial evaluation of the patient with RA should include documentation of symptoms of

There are many inflammation and degenerative conditions in the Musculoskeletal System that affect the efficient functioning of the body, such as Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent, chronic degenerative disorders, more common amongst older people while Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease which mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues. As many of these illnesses can last up to the patient’s entire lifetime, it is important knowing about these diseases, for further research to be done about the causes and developing more effective, pharmaceutical drugs that can benefit the patient allowing them to continue leading productive and normal lives. Sources: Sinusas, K. 2012, ‘Osteoarthritis: Diagnosis and Treatment,’ American Family Physician, 86(10), pp.893 and Nice.org.uk, 2015, viewed on the 13th of August

Arthritis is a joint disorder, which affects one or several joints in the body. The condition has more than one hundred types of diseases with osteoarthritis being the most common. Osteoarthritis results from joint infection, or age. Patients that suffer from arthritis complain about pain in the joints. In most cases, the pain remains constant in the affected joint. It is worth noting, “The pain from arthritis is due to inflammation that occurs around the joint, damage to the joint from disease, daily wear and tear of joint, muscle strains caused by forceful movements against stiff painful joints and fatigue” (Reid, Shengelia & Parker, 2012, p. 40). However, joint pain could result from various diseases, and in such