Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis affects an estimated 293,000 people, or one person in 100. Rheumatoid Arthritis causes inflammation in the lining of the joints or other internal organs. This inflammation separates Rheumatoid Arthritis from other more common forms of arthritis, like osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid Arthritis can affect people of all ages from little kids to old people. It most commonly appears between the ages of 25 and 50. Rheumatoid Arthritis affects women three times more often than men. It is a chronic disease, affecting many joints throughout the body, and resulting in damage to cartilage, bone, tendons and ligaments, not just joints like I thought. Although there is no cure or prevention for Rheumatoid Arthritis, there are ways to help relieve the pain and keep people active, happy, and productive. Rheumatoid Arthritis may start gradually or with a sudden, severe attack with flu-like symptoms, pretty weird for a bone disease. Pain and swelling of the joints, usually symmetrical, is the first sign. Stiffness in the morning, of joints and muscle
One important way to distinguish Rheumatoid Arthritis from other forms of arthritis is by the pattern of the joints being attacked. For example, Rheumatoid Arthritis affects the wrists and many of the hand joints but usually not the joints that are closest to the fingernails. Other joints commonly affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis include the elbows, shoulders, neck, jaw, feet, ankles, knees, and hips. Other than the neck, the spine usually is not directly affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis. Along with the painful joints, Rheumatoid Arthritis can cause inflammation in other body tissues and organs. In 20% of cases, lumps called rheumatoid nodules develop under the skin, often over bones in certain areas. These occur most often around the elbow but can be found elsewhere on the body and even in internal organs. Occasionally, people with Rheumatoid Arthritis will develop inflammation of the membranes that surround the heart and lung or inflammation of the lung tissue itself. Inflammation of tear glands and salivary glands results in dry eyes and dry mouth.
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