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Rheumatoid Arthritis Introduction |
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Rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) is a chronic
inflammatory condition of the
connective tissues throughout the
body, but especially around the
joints. The main sign of RA is often
stiff, painful, and swollen joints.
Areas of typical complaint include the hands, feet,
wrists, ankles, and knees.
Depending on the severity of the
condition, these areas may
eventually become deformed. The
exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis
remains, largely, unknown.
It has been theorized that a number of genetic and
environmental factors may contribute
to the disease process, and may
include;
genetics, poor nutrition, lifestyle, chronic stress, abnormal
bowel permeability, food allergies,
and infection caused by various
microorganisms.
In rheumatoid
arthritis, the joint lining, or synovial
membrane, becomes inflamed
and the joints become stiff and
swollen. The synovial membrane
secretes a slippery fluid that
covers the cartilage-covered joints
and reduces the friction between
adjacent joints. |
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The chronic
inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis eventually leads to destruction of
the cartilage covering the ends of
the joints and underlying
bone. In many cases this
damage causes joint
deformity.
Rheumatoid arthritis
is an autoimmune disease, in which
the immune system produces
antibodies (called rheumatoid
factor) that attack the body's own
tissues. Because of this, Rheumatoid
arthritis
is also considered a connective
tissue disorder. Collagen-rich
connective tissues such as the eyes,
lungs, heart, and blood vessels, may
be adversely affected by RA and its
accompanying inflammation.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Statistics
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According to The
Arthritis Foundation (1):
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Rheumatoid
arthritis affects
approximately 2.1 million people in the
United States.
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Onset usually
occurs between the ages of 30 and
50, although RA may begin at any
age
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Affects anyone,
including children
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RA
affects three times more women
than men.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms |
Rheumatoid arthritis
usually develops slowly over the
course of several
weeks to several months. This type of
arthritis may chronically recur
in week- or month-long episodes.
In some cases, after many years, the
attacks gradually stop and the
disease may "burn itself out,"
though permanent disability may result.
General symptoms
include:
Specific symptoms may
include:
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Painful, stiff,
tender, and swollen joints, most
often of the hands, but may also
involve other joints of the feet,
wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips,
knees, and/or ankles.
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Joint pain and
stiffness is typically worse in
the morning and improves as the
day goes on.
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Chronic disease can
lead to disability and
deformities, most typically
affecting the middle joint of the
fingers so that they become
spindle-shaped.
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Learn More About
Rheumatoid Arthritis |
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