Rheumatoid Arthritis

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the joints. One of the many forms of arthritis,it causes joint deformity and bone erosion. This autoimmune disease happens when the body’s immune system, which usually protects the body from infection and disease, attacks healthy tissues. The cells in the joints break down the cartilage and inflame the tissue that lines the joints, causing friction between the bones in the joint. This condition causes severe debilitating pain that requires painkillers.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, resulting in damage to the tissues that line the ends of the bones in a joint. It can affect the joints in the wrist, hands, elbows, shoulders, spine, knees and feet.

What are the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis affects people differently. It may start with a mild or moderate inflammation affecting a few joints. However, if it is not treated or if the treatments are not working, the condition may worsen and affect more joints. Long term Rheumatoid Arthritis may lead to disability.

• Fatigue and loss of appetite
• Joint stiffness that is usually worse in the mornings and after inactivity
• Tender, warm, swollen joints
• Occassional low grade fever

At times, Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms may worsen in "flares" when triggered by factors such as stress, environmental factors like cigarette smoke and stopping your medication.

Rheumatoid Arthritis may result in other medical problems too such as anemia, neck pains, dry mouth, inflammation of the blood vessel, and lung disease.

What causes Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. Your immune system is meant to protect your body from disease, however with rheumatoid arthritis, something triggers your immune system to attack your own joints. 

This could likely be caused by a mixed of genetic changes, hormones, and environmental factors. 

What are the risk factors for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

You'll be more likely to develop Rheumatoid Arthritis if you have the following risk factors:

• Age: Although Rheumatoid Arthritis can develop at any age, your risk for developing the condition increases with age.
• Sex: Rheumatoid Arthritis is more common among women as compared to men, with women two to three times more likely to develop the condition as compared to men.
• Family History: If you have a family member with Rheumatoid Arthritis, you will be more likely to develop the condition.
• Smoking: Chronic smokers are at a higher risk of developing Rheumatoid Arthritis. The disease may be more severe in those who continue smoking after developing the condition.
• Obesity: Studies have shown that being obese may increase your risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis as well as limit how much the disease can be improved.

What complications could Rheumatoid Arthritis cause?

Rheumatoid arthritis could increase your risk of developing the following conditions:

• Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis weakens the bones and make them more prone to breaking. Rheumatoid arthritis and medications used to treat it may increase your risk of developing this condition.
• Damaged or deformed joints: Rheumatoid arthritis attacks the synovium, the lining of your joints, causing chronic inflammation that leads to the breakdown of cartilage and bones.
• Rheumatoid nodules: These are non-cancerous bumps of tissue most often formed around pressure points, such as the elbows and feet.
• Dry eyes and mouth: People with rheumatoid arthritis are more like to develop lower amount of moisture in the mouth and eyes.
• Infections: Rheumatoid arthritis and its medication may harm the immune system, which may lead to more infections. 
• Heart problems: Rheumatoid arthritis may increase the risk of hardened and blocked arteries.

How is Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosed?

Blood Test
A complete blood count blood test will be done to check for white blood cell increase due to infection.

Imaging Tests
Imaging tests are done with ultrasound or CT scan to check for inflammation or bone and soft tissue abnormalities.