All about Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- Bianca Preston
- Aug 22, 2022
- 4 min read
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes joint inflammation and pain. It happens when the immune system doesn’t work properly and attacks the lining of the joints.
In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the immune system attacks the joints. RA is a disease that leads to inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues, although it can also affect other organs (including your skin, eyes, mouth, lungs and heart).
It can occur at any age and is mostly found in women.
You may have symptoms of pain and inflammation in your:
fingers
hands
wrists
knees
ankles
feet
toes
Symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
RA affects the joints on both sides of the body equally: fingers, wrists, knees, feet, elbows, ankles, hips and shoulders are the most commonly affected.
The disease often begins slowly and can be identified by the following symptoms:
Joint pain (You have pain and swelling in 3 or more joints, for longer than 6 weeks)
Stiffness - especially in the mornings and after inactivity
Extreme tiredness
Chest pain when taking a breath (pleurisy)
Dry eyes and mouth (Sjögren syndrome)
Eye burning, itching, and discharge
Nodules under the skin (most often a sign of more severe disease)
Numbness, tingling, or burning in the hands and feet
Sleep difficulties
Joints may feel warm, tender, and stiff when not used for an hour, and are often felt in the same joint on both sides of the body.
The joints are often swollen and overtime joints may lose their range of motion and may become deformed.
How is Rheumatoid arthritis disease diagnosed and treated?
Rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity.
There is no test that can determine for sure whether you have RA. Most people with RA will have some abnormal test results, some people will have normal results for all tests.
Your healthcare provider will take your medical history and perform a physical exam and blood tests are also ordered.
These may include:
Rheumatoid factor
Anti-CCP antibody (cyclic citrullinated peptides)
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or “sed rate” confirms inflammation in your joints
RA most often requires long-term treatment by an expert in arthritis called a rheumatologist.
The goal of treatment is to stop the progression of the RA and to reduce joint pain and swelling, and may include:
Physical therapy
Exercise
Education to help you understand the nature of RA
Early treatment for RA with medicines called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDS) and might take weeks or months before you see any benefit from these drugs - consult your healthcare provider.
Possible triggers of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Normally, your immune system helps protect your body from infection and disease. In rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system attacks healthy tissue in your joints.
Although the exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, researchers think it’s triggered by a combination of genetics, hormones and environmental factors.
People born with variations in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. HLA genes help your immune system tell the difference between proteins your body makes and proteins from invaders like viruses and bacteria.
Possible triggers for RA flare-ups include:
Smoking - Not only is smoking bad for your overall health, but it also activates molecules in your body that trigger RA, and makes pain and stiffness worse and some medications less effective
Pollution, pesticides and other toxins - Consider non-chemical methods of pest control and organic produce
Physical or emotional stress - When you feel stress, your body releases chemicals that can create inflammation in your body, which is worsened in the long term
Food sensitivities - Some foods, drinks, and ingredients changes your gut bacteria and possibly promote inflammation like fried food, sugar-filled foods and drinks and processed foods
Weather. Some people's joints act up every time it rains - and could be because of changes in air pressure, humidity and temperature.
Some helpful tips to ease joint pain
Joint protection techniques
Heat and cold treatments
Heat treatments, such as heat pads or warm baths, tend to work best for soothing stiff joints and tired muscles. Cold is best for acute pain and swollen joints. It can numb painful areas and reduce inflammation.
Lifestyle changes
Rest when your joints are inflamed, this will decrease your risk of injury to your joints and nearby tissue. Daily movement like walking or swimming will help prevent loss of joint motion and will improve muscle strength.
Nutrition
Some foods may cause inflammatory reactions which increase joint pain and a balanced nutritious diet is recommended. It may be helpful to eat foods rich in fish oils (omega-3 fatty acids) and excessive alcohol should be avoided.
Many people with Rheumatoid Arthritis have success with the autoimmune paleo diet, you can contact me if you would like to have a chat or would like to follow an AIP diet with me.
Although there’s no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, there are many effective methods for decreasing your pain and inflammation and slowing down your disease process - early diagnosis and effective treatment are very important.
I am a certified health coach and help women who struggle with rheumatoid arthritis through nutrition and lifestyle modifications.
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