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Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Paper

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Rheumatoid Arthritis is an inflammatory disease that affects the small joints in your hands and feet. It affects the lining of your joints causing pain and swelling. Which can eventually cause bone erosion and joint deformity? An autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system attacks its own body tissue. This disease can occur at any age but usually between the age of 40 and 60 years of age. Rheumatoid arthritis usually attacks your smaller joints first, such as those that attach your fingers to your hands, and your toes to your feet. As the disease progresses, symptoms sometimes spread to the wrists, knees, ankles, elbows, hips and shoulders. Over time it can cause your joints to deform and shift out of place.(National …show more content…

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 …show more content…

It tends to affect your smaller joints, joints that attach to your hands and your toes which may cause you to awaken stiff and make it hard to move around especially when you first wake up. Also, when sitting for long periods of time when you go to get up, you may find it difficult to stand or move freely. This disease is very painful and you may find yourself wondering why you don’t get around like you used to or you are unable to perform daily tasks such as tying your shoes or holding on to the simplest of things. You may find things hard to grasp. Your joints will begin to crack and pop when you bend your fingers, and as time progresses, you may notice a slight curvature in your

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