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 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.

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.