In this article I will look at Rheumatoid Arthritis. At the outset we look at what Rheumatoid Arthritis exactly is, we then consider the causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis, the risk factors associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and the treatments available and current management strategies.

 

What is it?

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that most typically affects the small joints in your hands and feet. Unlike the wear-and-tear damage of Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity.

An autoimmune disorder, Rheumatoid Arthritis occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body's tissues. In addition to causing joint problems, Rheumatoid Arthritis can also affect your whole body with fevers and fatigue.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is two to three times more common in women than in men and generally occurs between the ages of 40 and 60. While there's no cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis, treatment options have expanded greatly in the past few decades.

How do I recognise it?

Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include:

  • Joint pain
  • Joint swelling
  • Joints that are tender to the touch
  • Red and puffy hands
  • Firm bumps of tissue under the skin on your arms (rheumatoid nodules)
  • Fatigue
  • Morning stiffness that may last for hours
  • Fever
  • Weight loss

Causes

Rheumatoid Arthritis occurs when your immune system attacks the synovium, the lining of the membranes that surround your joints. The resulting inflammation thickens the synovium, which can eventually invade and destroy the cartilage and bone within the joint. The tendons and ligaments that hold the joint together weaken and stretch. Gradually, the joint loses its shape and alignment.

Doctors don't know what starts this process, although a genetic component appears likely. While your genes don't actually cause Rheumatoid Arthritis, they can make you more susceptible to environmental factors — such as infection with certain viruses and bacteria — that may trigger the disease.

How do you treat it?

Like any disease, even if there is no cure, there is almost always something you can do to manage it and take control. There are three main areas involved in the treatment of any disease:

For information on medicines and therapies relevant to Rheumatoid Arthritis, make an appointment at Lynch's Pharmacy, Broadale, Douglas, Cork on 021-4366923.

Learn all about the drugs used to treat the disease and any complementary medicines or therapies proven to help. Equip yourself with the tools to manage the condition and not be managed by it.

How do you live with it?

Certain adjustments may be needed to get on with your life, and often, some simple tips and advice can go a long way to making these changes. 

When you come to a Lynch's Pharmacy Clinic we give you all the necessary information available to make your life more manageable and allow you to live better with your condition.

References

http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/rheumatoid-arthritis/

RA, information for patients                                                                                                                                                                      http://www.cks.nhs.uk/patient_information_leaflet/rheumatoid_arthritis_arc/structured_view/who_gets_rheumatoid_arthritis

http://www.medicinenet.com/rheumatoid_arthritis/article.htm

https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/az/R/Rheumatoid-arthritis/Symptoms-of-rheumatoid-arthritis.html