What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

by admin | August 22, 2017 10:30 am

• Rheumatoid arthritis or RA is an autoimmune disease
• Causes chronic inflammation of the joints
• Has periods of disease flares and remissions
• Can cause permanent joint destruction and deformity

Causes of RA

• Abnormal response of the immune system due to change in hormones
• Infectious agents like bacteria or viruses
• Could be related to obesity
• Triggered by stressful events like physical or emotional trauma[1]
• Environmental factors could play a part

Symptoms of RA

• Joint pain, tenderness, swelling or stiffness for six weeks or longer
• Morning stiffness for 30 minutes or longer
• Pain in more than one joint
• Small joints (wrists, fingers, etc) are affected
• Affects joints on both sides of body

Diagnoses

Doctors will do an evaluation of:-
• Medical history
• Physical examination
• Blood test
• Imaging test
• Ultrasound
• Check for inflammation and antibodies

Treatment

The type of treatment will depend on severity of the problem. Can range from:-
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Corticosteroid medications
• Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
• Surgery in severe cases to relieve pressure and pain like:-
• joint fusion
• joint replacement[2]
• Physiotherapy

Tips to deal with RA

• Pay attention to what triggers pain
• Don’t sit in one position for too long
• Walk and stretch every half an hour
• Cold and hot compress may ease the pain
• Take breaks between a long stretch of work

Diet tips for people with RA

• Reduce the amount of salt in your food
• Cut back on sugar
• Alcohol is a proven trigger for RA
• Avoid saturated fats
• Avoid foods rich in Omega-3
• Avoid refined carbohydrates

 

 

Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.

Chennai – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4003500 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 6801

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