Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic and systemic inflammatory disorder. It can affect plenty of tissues and organs in human's body. Otherwise, the most common areas for rheumatoid arthritis are joints and synovial liquid. This systemic inflammatory disorder can also occur in the lungs, pericardium, pleura and sclera.
According to statistics, rheumatoid arthritis is a common disease, which affects even 1.3 million people in the United States of America. In addition to this, women have three times higher risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis than men. Rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age, otherwise the symptoms usually appears after 40 years of age.
Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
When rheumatoid arthritis is in active phase, patient usually experience fatigue, loss of energy, lack of appetite, low-grade fever, muscle and joint aches and stiffness. In addition to this, the joints usually become red, swollen and painful. When these symptoms occur, special treatment is required.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is based on medications and procedures that can be effective in reduction of joint pain, maximizing of joint function and prevention of joint destruction and deformation. The optimal treatment for rheumatoid arthritis consists of medications, rest, joint-strengthening exercises, joint protection and education. Education is important, because certain knowledge can be necessary when next outbreak of rheumatoid arthritis will occur. It is observed that the best results are gained in the treatment for rheumatoid arthritis when patient, his/her family and doctors are working together.
Pharmacological treatment, such as Cortisone therapies and treatment with anti-inflammatory agents, including glucocrticoids, paracetamol, opiates, topical lidocaine, etc. is the most common and first treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
