Rheumatoid Arthritis : What Is It?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease that affects whole systems of body particularly cardiovascular system, nerves, respiratory system (RACGP, 2009). The causes of rheumatoid arthritis are unknown but it is hereditary which assists to have a risk of rheumatoid arthritis by 50%-60% (RACGP, 2009).

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.

During an assessment for this type of disorder you can tell if there are any joint deformities such as subluxation also know as dislocation can occur as well. Warmth or swollen joints, limited movement of the joint or immovable joints also known as ankylosis. Skin may be reddened but does not apply to everyone who has RA (Rosdahl, 2012). Some studies have shown that RA has been linked to having cardiovascular disease. Is been shown that most people that are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis are 3 times more likely to have a heart attack than others due to inflammation in the body affecting all other organs (Crowson, 2013).

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

Rheumatoid joint pain can be hard to analyze in its initial stages on the grounds that the early signs and side effects copy those of numerous different sicknesses. There is nobody blood test or physical finding to affirm the conclusion.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in the general family of lupus. For reasons that are not understood, in rheumatoid arthritis the immune system goes awry and begins attacking tissues, especially cartilage in the joints. Various joints become red, hot, and swollen under the onslaught. The pattern of inflammation is usually symmetrical, occurring on both sides of the body. Other symptoms include inflammation of the eyes, nodules (or lumps) under the skin, and a general feeling of malaise.

Arthritis affects more than just the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks various joints, internal organs,

Like with any disease, signs and symptoms can be experienced differently based on the individual. Rheumatoid Arthritis has a few that are common with the majority of people; joint pain, tenderness, swelling, and stiffness are inevitable. As the disease grows more severe, deformity and loss of the joints range of motion can occur.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease that attacks the musculoskeletal system. This means that certain cells of the immune system do not work properly and start attacking healthy tissues — the joints in RA. The cause of RA is not known. When inflammation occurs in the joint, immune cells release chemicals which attack the cartilage and bone, causing the swelling that leads to pain. This type of disease can cause many difficulties in the body itself. Such as pain, stiffness, swelling in joints, limited motion, loss of energy and appetite, low fevers, dry eyes and mouth, firm lumps at extremities and body discomforts. Rheumatoid arthritis mainly affects the small joints in the body like hands and feet. In rare cases, rheumatoid arthritis

History of weight loss, anorexia and fever; swan neck deformity and boutonniere deformity and a decreased range of motion (Silvestri, 2013, p. 851). During an assessment for this type of disorder you can tell if there are any joint deformities such as subluxation also know as dislocation can occur as well. Warmth or swollen joints, limited movement of the joint or immovable joints also known as ankylosis. Skin may be reddened but does not apply to everyone who has RA (Rosdahl, 2012). Diagnostics to help determine this disorder would first be getting an x-ray done, a (ESR) erythrocyte sedimentation rate can be done to determine if there is any inflammation and in this case there would be an increase in the (ESR), also a (RF) rheumatoid factor is performed, this is a blood test to determine how much RF antibody is in the blood which is very helpful to determine if you have RA or an autoimmune disease, if there is an increase then there is most likely a chance of knowing that you have rheumatoid arthritis (MedlinePlus, 2013). Some other diagnostics can be a positive latex agglutination test, this test is a method that can be used to determine antibodies or antigens in a wide rage of bodily fluids such as saliva, urine or blood. They then send these results to the laboratory and mix it with latex beads that are coated with an antibody or antigen, if there is a positive reaction they latex beads then clump together

Along with the physical exam, a rheumatologist will ask several questions regarding the patient's symptoms and health history. Then, may perform several diagnostic tests. Some of these diagnostic tests include blood tests which are used to look for biomarkers like antibodies what are linked with RA as well blood tests in order to measure inflammation levels. Some of these blood tests include ones to detect anemia which is a red blood cell deficiency; the rheumatoid factor, an antibody found in about 80% of people with RA, however isn’t definitive because it can show up in other inflammatory diseases; an antibody known as anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), which is primary only seen in RA, even before symptoms start, but only seen in about 60-70% of patients with the disease; elevated red blood cell

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.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disease that affects some 2 million people in the United States, roughly 1 to 2% of the population. It continues to be a mystery to many that study its origin. Rheumatoid Arthritis is commonly referred to as RA. It does not discriminate, it can wreak havoc on a wide range of people. It doesn’t care what your skin color is or where you reside or even your age. It is most common in people between the age of 40 and 60, but has been diagnosed in children as well. RA does seem to affect women more so than men. Some people say women are 3 times more likely to have it than men. This research paper examines Rheumatoid Arthritis in regards to: potential causes, its symptoms, how it is diagnosed, and how people cope/live with it. RA is being studied around the world, various trails and experiments continue to test new developments. Some people experience symptoms like joint stiffness at a very young age. Not everyone that has RA experiences the same symptoms. Treatment can be so different from one Rheumatologist to another. Based on this research there is still quite a bit to learn about RA.