Ra Essay

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(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 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

Many people all over the world may have rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the small joints in the hands and feet (Mayoclinicorg, 2015). It is also an autoimmune disease, where the immune system sees the body as a foreign object and attacks it (Mayoclinicorg, 2015). As the chronic disorder matures, it could seep into the blood vessels and into other organs: heart, lungs, skin, and eyes (Mayoclinicorg, 2015). This chronic pain is found mostly in women around forty to sixty years old; however, men with low testosterone could also have the chronic disorder (Mayoclinicorg, 2015). Because smokers burn off certain cells to prevent infection, they are also at risk for rheumatoid arthritis. This

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system protects the body’s health by attacking unknown substances like bacteria and viruses, and mistakenly attacks the body’s joints. This creates inflammation causing the tissue that lines the inside of joints to thicken, which results in swelling and pain in and around the joints. The tissue makes a fluid that lubricates joints and helps them move smoothly. If inflammation goes unchecked, it can damage cartilage, the elastic tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint, as well as the bones themselves. Over time, there is loss of cartilage, and the joint spacing between bones may become smaller. Joints can become

There are 5 types of RA progression measured by imaging radiography. Type 1 is identified as a rare type, with no radiographic progression, type 2 is a slow or moderate onset with increasing progression, type 3 is a moderate-to-fast onset with stable progression, type 4 is a fast onset with a decreased progression rate, and type 5 is a slow onset with acceleration in progression, then deceleration (Graudal et al, 2004). Having any of the five types of RA can cause disability as a result of joint damage, lowers quality of life, and can lead to other comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, tuberculosis, malignancies, and mental health conditions such anxiety and depression (Scott et al,

Gradually, the joint loses its shape and alignment. Doctor’s don’t know what causes this process to start, but it could be a genetic component. Your genes don’t cause the arthritis, but they can make you more susceptible to environmental factors, such as infection with certain viruses and bacteria that may trigger the disease. If a member of your family has the disease you are more likely to get it also. Rheumatoid arthritis can range from mild to severe. In most cases it is chronic, which means it lasts a long time even a lifetime. Scientists estimate the about 1.5 million people, or about 0.6 percent of the U.S. adult population have rheumatoid arthritis, according to the National Arthritis Data Workgroup. It occurs in all races and ethnic groups. Although the disease starts in mid-life, older teenagers and young adults may also be diagnosed with the disease. About two to three times as many women as men have the disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is primarily a disease of the joints. A joint is the point where two or more bones come together which is supposed to protect your immune system, the body from infection and disease, attacks joint tissues for unknown reasons. White blood cells, travel to the synovial and cause inflammation (synovitis), which causes the warmth, redness, swelling, and pain. As rheumatoid progresses, the inflamed synovium invades and destroys the cartilage and bone

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune, systemic disease that occurs in approximately 1% of the population. There are environmental, hormonal, and genetic factors that contribute to rheumatoid arthritis, with genetic factors having an increased effect. Rheumatoid arthritis is three times more prevalent in women than in men, and also tends to progress with age. Pregnant women with rheumatoid arthritis have decreased signs and symptoms, but at postpartum the signs and symptoms will resume with marked increase due to hormonal influence (Nelson, 2011). There are no known exact causes for rheumatoid arthritis, but autoimmunity does play a role in the progression and level of chronicity. Uncontrollable risk factors are related to family history and the state of one’s immune system. Controllable risk factors are considered environmental and include, but not limited to, smoking, alcohol, excessive intake of coffee, low vitamin D levels, oral contraceptives, and low socioeconomic status (Nelson, 2011).

The process involves an inflammatory response of the capsule around the joints (synovium) secondary to swelling (hyperplasia) of synovial cells, excess synovial fluid, and the development of fibrous tissue (pannus) in the synovium (Gerd et al.,2014). RA is more prevalent among women than men, and usually develops in the fourth and fifth decades of life, with 80% of the total cases occurring between ages 35 and 50 (Kavanaugh and Lipsky 1996).RA reduces lifespan on average from three to twelve years. RA is associated with decreased physical function, disability, under employment, and overall diminished quality of life. (Maclean C H et al., 2000). When it occurs in children it is called Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. The incidence and prevalence of RA differs significantly over time and between continents. The prevalence in developing countries ranges between 0.1 and 0.5% (Akar et al., 2004). Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory illness with prevalence of approximately 0.75% in India (Ausaf et al.,

Every disease has certain factors that play a role in contracting a disease. In regards to Rheumatoid Arthritis, there are many risk factors that are involved. Rheumatoid Arthritis is not a gender specific disease; however women are much more likely to develop the disease in their lifetime (Mayo Clinic, N.D.). Rheumatoid Arthritis can occur at any age of a person’s lifetime, but it most commonly to occur between the ages of 40 and 60 years old (Mayo Clinic, N.D.). Like many diseases, genetics can play a huge role in determining the probability of developing a condition. In Rheumatoid Arthritis, if a member in your family has the disease, you may have an increased risk of the disease as well (Mayo Clinic, N.D.). Also, the strongest and most consistent evidence in regards to RA is from an association between smoking and Rheumatoid Arthritis (Mayo Clinic, N.D.). The next risk factor of RA includes women that have never had a live birth, tend to have a slight

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be a serious joint and muscle condition that hinders the quality of life of anyone who acquires this disease. There’s many things to consider in order to understand this disease. Some of those topics include autoimmune etiology, RA vs osteoporosis, genetics and environmental factors, assessments, who’s at risk, treatment, physical activity, prevention, and showing you how RA can affect oral health. There’s no known prevention for RA, the sooner you seek care from a provider, the better your chances to minimize the damage it may cause.

Thus, RA is a disease that affects the joints. It embodied by a flare up and remission. Although, this disease often occur in more than one joint and can affect any joint in the body. People with this disease may physically exhaust or fatigued experience fevers. Furthermore, RA is by far the most serious,

Rheumatoid arthritis or (RA) can be difficult to diagnose for several reasons and there are many ways to diagnose it. Since there is no single test for the disease, there are just three ways to specify whether the patient has the disease or not. In addition, the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and other types of arthritis diseases can be similar that makes the diagnosing process inaccurate. Moreover, the symptoms vary from patient to another and it develops over time, so it can be severe in some people than the others can. As a result, doctors use several ways to diagnose this disease and to rule out the others. At the beginning, doctors always ask the patients to describe the symptoms and if it changed over time or not. In addition, they

Rheumatoid Arthritis is often referred to as RA. It is the most common inflammatory joint disease. It causes pain,swelling,and stiffiness in the joints. It can affect everybody no matter the gender or age. It is treatable but there is no cure for it.

Due to the irreversible damage that occurs in RA, there is a need to improve the identification and diagnosis of early RA. The primary serological tests for RA used to be assays detecting rheumatoid factor; however, nowadays ACPA assays are being used clinically. The most widely known autoantibody is the rheumatoid factor (RF). These IgM autoantibodies are directed against the Fc portion of IgG molecules. RF can be detected in about 75% of RA patients; however, it is also found in the healthy elderly population (5). Thus, it is not very specific. In addition, false positive RF results occur in patients with chronic infections and other rheumatic and inflammatory