Rheumatoid Arthritis Essay

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 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

Today in the United States there is an estimated 1.3 million people living and dealing with rheumatoid arthritis (Arthritis Foundation). One might ask, what exactly is rheumatoid arthritis? Well, rheumatoid arthritis, also commonly known as RA, is a form of inflammatory disease and an autoimmune disease. If the person is a minor, or below the age of six-teen, then the chronic disease can also go by the name of juvenile arthritis. The juvenile arthritis is, “Defined as chronic inflammation of the synovial joints, with unknown etiology, which starts before the age of sixteen and persists for at least six weeks” (Hink et al 1). This disease can affect anyone with a functioning immune system. Out of the 1.3 million people in the United States that have rheumatoid arthritis, 70% of that number is women (RA.com). Once again there are no certain reasons as to who receives this disease whether its children, elders, Caucasians, African Americans, etc. But once they do receive the illness, then it affects them immensely. “The disease is systemic, meaning it can occur throughout the whole body. It’s a chronic disease, so it can’t be cured” (Arthritis Foundation). The pain, stiffness and fatigue can affect the entire body. “RA occurs when your immune system, the system that protects your body from outside harm, mistakenly starts attacking healthy tissue” (RA.com). Rheumatoid arthritis is an incurable disease that is affecting

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease associated with swelling and pain in multiple joints. First joint tissue to be affected is the synovial membrane, which lines joint cavity. Multiple immune-regulatory cytokines (such as B-cells and interleukins) contribute to joint damage. Eventually, inflammation may spread to articular cartilage, fibrous joint capsule, and surrounding ligaments and tendons, causing pain, joint deformity, and loss of function.

When the point of two or more bones comes together, it is called a joint. We are able to make a movement because the present of joints which are designed to allow movement and to assimilate shock from the movement such as running or walking. Furthermore, cartilage is an elastic and though tissue that covered the ends of the bones. The capsule act as protection centre which joints is surrounded by it. A type of tissue called synovium produces synovial fluid lined the joint capsule (Magro, C., M., and Crowson, A., N., 2003). The fluid is clear in substances that help the cartilage and bones inside the joint capsule easily lubricated and nourished. The disease process leading to rheumatoid arthritis begins here. The protective sac consists of lubricating liquid known as synovial fluid. Other than to cushioning joints, cartilage is a slippery tissue located at the ends of the bones also get nutrients and oxygen which is supplied by the fluids. Cartilage also is the structural protein in the body, which is composed primarily of collagen. The functions of this cartilage is form a mesh to give protection and flexibility to the joints. In rheumatoid arthritis, continuous inflammation of the synovium is occurred caused by an abnormal immune system response that secrete destructive molecules (Paleolog, 2002). As a result, collagen dramatically destroyed thus make the joint space

Arthritis is an inflammation of the joint(s). There are tons of different types of arthritis, but the two most common types include; osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is common when an infection or an injury occurs to the joints, which can then breakdown cartilage tissue. Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an autoimmune disorder. This happens when your immune system attacks the tissue of the body. You can tell if you have some type of arthritis if you have pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. Sometimes you can see redness on the skin around the joint. My grandma has arthritis and I can sometimes see the redness around her joints, and her fingers become very swollen and stiff

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 hand joints. RA is

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.,

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

There is a difference between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a complex disease with many different symptoms. Even though both cause joint pain they are both chronic and non-curable diseases, they both have different causes, symptoms, and prognoses. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder and osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that is the results of increased wear on joints. It is estimated that 27 million American have Osteoarthritis. Certain jobs or things that require repetitive motion can cause the cartilage to wear down. The different symptoms of osteoarthritis symptoms are joint pain that last less than thirty minutes in the morning, possible spine and hip pain, and joint

It’s an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the lining of the joints. An autoimmune disease occurs when the individuals own immune system fails to recognize healthy tissue. The immune system, designed to protect our health by attacking foreign cells such as viruses, instead attacks the body’s healthy tissue. As a result, fluid builds up in the joints causing inflammation and joint pain. According to WebMD, Rheumatoid Arthritis is a type of arthritis that occurs in joints on both sides of the body. This symmetry helps distinguish Rheumatoid Arthritis from other types of arthritis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says “the inflamed synovium leads to erosions of the cartilage and bone.” This inflammatory process primarily affects the lining of the joints, known as the synovial membrane, but can also affect other organs. As stated by James Warson, “the causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis are not known, but several theories are under investigation” (63). Some theories suggest that a virus may alter the immune system, causing it to attack the joints. Other theories suggest that exposure to smoking may lead to Rheumatoid Arthritis. It’s believed to be due to a combination of genetic, environmental, and hormonal

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is defined as a common, chronic, and systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease (Curtis, Gaggo, Saag, 2006, 2451.) While there are several different kinds of arthritis, one that can be debilitating is rheumatoid arthritis. It typically occurs around the fourth or fifth decade of life and has a tendency to affect women more often than men. Living with this condition can have a significant impact on the patient 's quality of life. Day to day activities can become a hindrance living with RA. Furthermore, patients affected can display physical deformities which cause additional health and mobility issues. According to the American College of Rheumatology, about 1.3 million Americans currently have RA (ACR, 2015.)

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 is a disease where the body’s immune system attacks the joints and other healthy cells. This creates inflammation inside of the joints, which then causes swelling and pain in and around the joints. If inflammation goes unchecked,