Symptoms of Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic disease of the body or all primarily affects synovial joints. However, it can affect major organs and tissues as well. The root cause of the disease is unknown, but it was noted by the experts, autoimmunity plays a role in the development and progression of the disease. Thus, it is often grouped as an autoimmune disease. When an attack rheumatoid synovial joint, it causes inflammation of the synovium is the fluid secretion synovium. This causes further development of the synovial pannus, and extension of synovial cells, leading to an overproduction of synovial fluid.

As the disease progresses, the total damage of the articularcartilage and ankylosis of the joints occurs. In addition, synovial joints, rheumatoid arthritis can cause organs such as kidneys, lungs, heart and blood vessels, the subcutaneous tissue of the skin. It must be examined at the time, or it can lead to physical disability or permanent disability. It affects mostly young people, and female adults have been attacked by rheumatoid arthritis more than men. The smaller joints of the body; like the fingers, knees, wrists, and neck, usually are the first to be infected by rheumatoid arthritis. For the sufferers, the most pain is from getting up from their beds in the morning.

What is the Cause of this disease?

Research for the cause is worldwide, mainly because every country and nation is not prone to its destruction. Researchers suspect genetics to be a factor in promoting the disease. In addition, it was assumed that any infection caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, or other environmental factors such as smoking acts as a stimulant or catalyst, makes the immune system hyperactive. The overactive immune system is bad, and invades the body healthy tissue, causing inflammation in the affected area.

Symptoms:

• “Aches and Pains” in the joints
• Inflammation of the joints
• Stiffness in the joints
• Redness of skin around the affected joint
• Weakness in joints
• Mild fever
• Tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Anemia
• Hoarse voice
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Dryness in the mouth
• Nodules on or under skin

What is the Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms? - Plus 6 Sad Facts

These are the 6 sad facts about Rheumatoid Arthritis:

• 2.1 million Americans are infected by this disease.
• It is an autoimmune disease.
• Women are 3 times more likely to be affected than men.
• Individuals aged between 25-50 years are most susceptible to developing the disease, although it can affect anyone of any age.
• Although people can develop rheumatoid arthritis gradually, some can experience sudden attacks of flu symptoms when they first catch it.
• It can damage the organs of your body, not just the joints.

And once your joints have inflammation, joint deformities soon follow. Rheumatoid arthritis is a very random disease when it damages organs or other parts of the body. It is also known to be a “systemic disease”, meaning it can affect parts of the body simultaneously. 

Let’s examine the sequence of events with regard to rheumatoid arthritis...

1. The particular joints swell up (usually of the knees and hands), because the body over-produces the natural lubricating fluids. Redness, stiffness, and pain are sure to follow.
2. The rapid growth and division of cells around the joints adds to the pain. The synovial membrane then thickens.
3. The enzyme released by the inflamed cells begins dissolving bone and cartilage. This ends up in joint deformities which were the result of joints being out of alignment.

The root cause of rheumatoid arthritis is still to be discovered. However, it is a fact that genetics comes into play with this disease, since someone who has a family member who is diagnosed with rheumatoidarthritis tends to pick up the same disease... but not always.

Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

So you want to know what the signs and symptoms are so you can be sure you have rheumatoid arthritis. Not a problem. Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis vary from person to person, but here are some common symptoms:

• Swelling, redness, stiffness, and pain on joints
• Dry mouth and eyes
• Deformed joints
• Mild colds and fevers
• Decreased appetite and energy
• Bodily weakness

Now the above examples were just symptoms, those symptoms could be the result of some other illness. So here are the things that confirm you have rheumatoid arthritis:

• You had normal arthritis for longer than 2 months
• Your joints show to be eroded on X-rays
• You have joint stiffness after waking up
• You have nodules on the skin
• You had a positive blood test for the Rheumatoid Factor

So watch out for those signs...

What is the Difference between Rheumatoid Arthritis and "Normal" Arthritis

If you were curious what “rheumatoid arthritis” was, then I want to tell you that it is NOT regular arthritis. The arthritis that we usually see is in older individuals; whose joints (around the knees and hands) feel stiff and painful. But I won’t be talking about that type of arthritis today...

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that 3 percent of the world’s population has been diagnosed with.  “Autoimmune disease” is basically a disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack itself. Interestingly enough; a large number of these victims are women.

When compared to normal arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis can affect individuals from almost any age. This form of arthritis is also unpredictable, since suffers either develop the disease slowly or suddenly. When children are the victims of this disease, it is called Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. 

How Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Occur?

Although physicians and medical experts know lots about the symptoms and reactions of the disease, the actual occurrence of its development is still uncertain. However, experts do agree that this disease was started by a virus, and it somehow came into contact with the individuals that were the most prone to the disease. Not everyone is susceptible to developing it though. So for example; if your close relative has been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, you do have the potential to develop the disease as well.

What are the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a more extreme type of arthritis, because not only does it attack the joints of the body... it attacks the body’s organs as well! These are the symptoms:

1. The synovial membranes that line your joints become inflamed.
2. The inflammation causes a surplus of fluid to lubricate your joints.
3. This combination of fluid and inflammation produces swelling and pain in the joints.
4. After time in this condition the soft tissue and cartilage becomes weak, resulting in joint deformities.

Those are the regular symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, but there are additional symptoms that add to the present pain:

• Small swellings called nodules
• Dry eyes and mouth
• Enlarged lymph glands
• Swelling around the eyes, blood vessels, and heart
• Anemia