Chronic Disease : Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis or “RA” is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks its own body tissues. This disease affects the lining of joints causing pain and swelling. Eventually the swelling can lead to bone erosion and joint deformity. RA can happen to anyone at any age, but the majority of people who have to endure this disease are women over the age of 40.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. While inflammation of the tissue around the joints and inflammatory arthritis are characteristic features of rheumatoid arthritis, the disease can also cause inflammation and injury in other organs in the

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

This inflammatory incurable disease Rheumatoid Arthritis came as a surprise to John as he had never experienced such an ‘excruciating pain’ in his joints. Pain initially started in his left hand and the next day he suffered from the same excruciating pain in his right hand. This really disturbed him as he had no idea what to do with it. The pain was absolutely excruciating that he decided to see a doctor and seek medical advice. His doctor was also confused and just recommended him some Analgesic or Paracetamol tablets to mitigate the pain. This indicates that John has led a healthy life in his past and has good medical record, since he was experiencing this kind of disease for the first time in his life; his doctor was unable to learn about his condition in the first place (Charmaz, pp.976-993).

Since I struggled in school and cannot play many sports due to my Rheumatoid Arthritis, I found art to be the perfect outlet for me. I chose to pick a major from the CSULB College of the Arts because I knew I wanted to get a degree where I would be able to create art and explore other artistic talents. I decided to major in film because I find films magical, every time I watch a movie, music video or short film I escape reality and enter a fantasy. Films inspire me to write new lyrics, new scripts, and to make a change. Growing up I wanted to be an actress in films and film has given me the opportunity to act in films and work behind the camera. I have enjoyed every film class especially FEA 299 Media Aesthetics. I did not have much knowledge

Do you ever find yourself feeling limited to everyday activities due to throbbing in you joints? Do you ever wake up and find yourself battling with pain and stiffness? Well, just know you are not alone. All across America, thousands of people are affected by this disease every year. Generally, those who suffer the most from this chronic disease are ages 65 and over. Rheumatoid arthritis is taking a major toll on the lives of many senior citizens. Don’t let the swelling of your joints stop you from feeling young again.

In osteoarthritis, the cartilage at the end of bones wears down and produces rough, hard, edges of bone which cause trouble. This generally begins after 40, and 16 million in the U.S. have it. In rheumatoid arthritis, the cartilage at the end of bones is destroyed and is replaced with scar tissue. Then swelling occurs, and the joints may eventually fuse together. While osteoarthritis only affects individual joints, rheumatoid arthritis ultimately affects all synovial joints in a person's body.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disorder. There are more than 100 different types of Arthritis, yet it is estimated that it affects approximately 1% of the population in the Western World. The disease is generally diagnosed in middle aged adults and the elderly. In rarer cases, children can also develop the disease and it is called Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. Women are three times more likely to have rheumatoid arthritis than men. (Stevens) Many people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis appear to be healthy individuals, but suffer internally. Today, I will discuss what rheumatoid arthritis is, how it is diagnosed, and how it affects the body.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that can affect any joint where two bones meet, causing them to painfully swell and possibly result in dislocation of the joints. This is caused from the synovial membrane being inflamed leading to cartilage and bone destruction. This can make simple functions of everyday living extremely difficult such as buttoning a shirt, turning a key in a lock, or holding a drinking glass. Common deformity of rheumatoid arthritis of the hand joints are swan neck which affects the proximal joints and fingers are locked stiff is such position, and ulnar drift; where the phalanges curve outward towards the ulnar bone. Symptoms may include stiffness of joint(s) in the morning, warmth, tenderness,

Rheumatoid Arthritis known as RA is an autoimmune disease which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the joints. In a healthy individual the immune system protects by attacking foreign substances like bacteria and viruses. When this happens the body will create inflammation that causes the tissue that lines the inside of the joints known as the synovium to thicken, which creates swelling and pain around the joints. If the individual is to go a prolong period without treatment for RA it can damage the cartilage and over time the loss of cartilage the joint can then become loose, unstable, painful and most lose their mobility. Joint deformation can occur and the damage to the joint cannot be reversed.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that affects the cartilage in one 's joints, it is not curable, it can not be stopped, only the pain itself can be lessened. In an average person’s body, the immune system has one job; to attack foreign substances that may enter the body. With the 1.5 million people in the United States that have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, their bodies are “tricked” or mislead into thinking that the cartilage within their joints is what is foreign. Once their immune system attacks the joints, it causes inflammation within, which then in turn leads to the synovium (lining of the joints) tissue to thicken. The synovium makes a fluid that acts as a lubricant to the joints and helps everything move freely. Once that fluid is gone, swelling and pain is experienced next. After awhile, the cartilage within the joints begins to disintegrate and will eventually cripple the individual. Along with knowing exactly what RA is, by the end of this paper you will know signs and symptoms within the oral cavity and systemically, and you’ll be familiar with how nutrition is related to the progression of this disease.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a growing and life- changing disease in Australia, creating negative social and economic consequences for both the individual patient and society. A disorder in which the body attacks its own healthy cells and tissues resulting in limited movement and inflamed joints in the body. Rheumatoid Arthritis has been chosen as a National Health Priority Area as it is a prevalent disease and the conditions are a significant cause of disability. The topics being discussed in this essay will include the definition of the disease Rheumatoid Arthritis: reasons for inclusion as a priority health issue focusing on the incidence and prevalence in the Australian population, risk factors for developing Rheumatoid Arthritis and

Rheumatoid Arthritis or (RA) is an autoimmune disease that attacks the joints and connective tissue. The result is inflammation that produces permanent damage in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic syndrome that tends to be progressive and destructive as compared to Osteoarthritis or (OA), which is more of an age related disease caused by “wear and tear” of the joints. In contrast to (OA), rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by inflammation mostly of the joints, but is a general body disease.

In 1991, Dr. Nigel Leigh Cox, administered a lethal dose of potassium chloride to Mrs. Lillian Boyes, at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester. England. Mrs. Lillian Boyes, then 70, was a patient of Dr. Cox for over 13 years and they had a strong bond of respect for one another. Mrs. Boyes refused all therapeutic treatment, although she was suffering intolerably from the worst case of rheumatoid arthritis. Mrs. Lillian had been admitted to the hospital over 20 times regarding her pain from the arthritis. In the last few days Mrs. Boyes’pain became more intense.

This paper will be addressing a chronic disease known as rheumatoid arthritis that “is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system – which normally protects its health by attacking foreign substances like bacteria and viruses – mistakenly attacks the joints. This creates inflammation that causes the tissue that lines the inside of joints (the synovium) to thicken, resulting in swelling and pain in and around the joints.” (Foundation 2016) The interviewee in this paper, Robert Doe, age 68, has been diagnosed with this chronic autoimmune disease. This interview consisted of six questions in the home of Mr. Doe around his disease and the medications/substances used and what their long term effects consist of, activities of daily