What is Rheumatoid Arthritis and Other Facts You Need to Know about It

Considered as one of the worst forms of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is most prevalent with people within the age range of 20 to 50. No one knows for certain what causes rheumatoid arthritis, so it's no wonder the question is being asked: What is rheumatoid arthritis?

It is believed that it occurs when the person’s own immune system goes out of kilter and starts attacking tissue linings of your joints. There is also no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but you can make certain decisions to prevent this disease from ruining your life.

Signs and Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Pain is the most common symptom of rheumatoid arthritis and it is often more serious than what people would experience with other and lesser forms of arthritis. Pain will be mostly experienced in affected areas.

Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis not only affects bones and joints but even linings of the heart and lungs, salivary and tear glands, and even your blood vessels. All these are then susceptible to pain when you have rheumatoid arthritis.

You can also check your body for any appearances of rheumatoid nodules. These lumps are generally small - they can get no bigger than a walnut - but painless.

Individuals afflicted by rheumatoid arthritis often suffer from sleeping difficulties and this is partly due to the accompanying pain they experience.

In advanced cases of rheumatoid arthritis, you might notice having problems with moving because of your joints. This could be due to intensely swelling, stiff, or deformed joints.

Other possible symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are fatigue and low-grade fever. An overall feeling of sickness is also attributed to rheumatoid arthritis.

Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis

In the old days, a wheelchair-bound future was a virtual certainty for people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Nowadays, however, the wide and increasingly effective variety of treatments available makes it possible for affected individuals to still enjoy fairly normal and actively lifestyles.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). Better known as painkillers in layman’s terms, NSAIDs are more effective in alleviating not only pain but inflammation as well if taken consistently.

Most NSAIDs are available as OTC medication but prescriptions are required for NSAIDs of higher dosages. NSAIDs however have significant side effects like stomach bleeding and indigestion. Damage to your kidneys and liver and hypertension may also possibly occur when taking NSAIDs...