Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis. It is caused by an auto-immune disorder which causes the body’s own immune system to attack its joints, leading to often severe pain, loss of mobility, swelling and occasionally redness.

Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect areas of the body not related to the joints, including the liver, lungs, skin and muscles. As such, many patients with Rheumatoid arthritis find themselves unable to function normally and most will wind up having to quit work and limit their participation in social activities and sports.

Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in women than men, and generally starts between the ages of 25 and 55. In some patients the symptoms come and go over the years, while in others the disease progresses from mild manageable symptoms to a seriously debilitating outcome. Rheumatoid arthritis starts as mild stiffness in some joints, which is most severe in the mornings.

If managed at this early stage through changes to diet and lifestyle, together with a specially tailored physical therapy plan, many patients will be able to continue to function normally for many years, in spite of their condition.

However if the disease is not managed it can worsen, progressing to a chronic, debilitating disease. Thus early detection can be the key to living with Rheumatoid arthritis and many arthritis sufferers do indeed live a full and happy life.

If you suspect that you may be affected, see your doctor immediately so he can diagnose if you do have arthritis and then determine which treatment plan to take.