10 Things About Rheumatoid Arthritis

Most people have heard of rheumatoid arthritis. However, unless they or someone they know suffers from this disease, they often do not have a clear understanding of it. Here are 10 things about rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

1. RA Arthritis Is not That Develop With Age
RA is an autoimmune disorder and forms of inflammatory arthritis. This is the result of the immune system that has been tilted. As a result, the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints in the body cause inflammation and pain. Also, it can cause joint erosion, permanently damaging the joints. In some cases, it can affect internal organs.

2. RA is a chronic disease, but Ill Patients Do not Always Appear
There is no cure for RA. Most people over the period, the so-called flare-ups, in which their symptoms, such as pain, stiffness, and fatigue, much more visible. However, they also have periods of remission, in which they may have no symptoms at all. While they appear completely healthy, they still have the disease.

3. Early Diagnosis and Treatment of aggressive important
Studies have found that the best way to prevent joint damage, disability, and organ damage involving early diagnosis and aggressive treatment. In fact, treatment with anti-rheumatic disease-modifying (DMARD) is considered as a key to enter and maintain disease remission well controlled as possible.

4. Having RA Increases Risk of Heart Disease
According to the American College of Rheumatology, the risk of heart attack nearly doubled the risk of heart attack. Researchers believe this is caused by excessive inflammation associated with RA. There is a relationship between inflammation and heart disease.

5. Rheumatoid Arthritis Affects Children
Rheumatoid arthritis, also known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, affecting about 50,000 American children. However, it is not known why some children develop. Symptoms can appear at the early age of 6 months or until the end of the 16 year old. In some children, the rash suddenly appear and disappear, in addition to signs of a more typical joint pain, stiffness, and swelling.

6. RA Patients Should Consider Their diet
Research has shown that dietary changes can help reduce pain and inflammation. Patients with RA should include plenty of cold water fish, extra virgin olive oil, vitamin-D fortified milk products, and organically grown fruits and vegetables in their daily diet.

7. While researchers Is not 100% certain what causes RA, Smoking Can Trigger It
Smoking is a well-known environmental triggers for many health conditions. In fact, smoking is considered to play an important role in 1/3 of the cases of severe RA. Individuals who smoke and have a family history of RA makes more than 50% of those diagnosed with RA.

8. Increase the Number of Women with RA
According to the 2010 study was completed at the Mayo Clinic, RA is on the rise in US women for the first time in more than 40 years. From 1995 to 2007, an increase of 2.5% in the rate of women with RA. However, the rate among men declined. Although it is not entirely clear why, the researchers believe it could happen because of smoking, vitamin D deficiency, and lower estrogen birth control pills. (It is possible that estrogen may protect against RA.)

9. Pregnancy Positive Impact of RA
Up to 75% of women with a diagnosis of RA report that their symptoms go into remission during pregnancy. It usually occurs around the second month of pregnancy. This is presumably because pregnancy can slow the immune system is too active and some increased hormone levels during pregnancy may be protective for the mother. However, it is not uncommon diseases lit after childbirth.

10. RA Can Increase Risk of Diabetes Type II, as well as a decline in It
It is believed that the inflammation associated with RA can increase the risk of developing type II diabetes. In addition, corticosteroids are often used to treat the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis increase blood sugar levels, thus increasing the risk of diabetes type 2. Overall, the relationship between RA and diabetes type II rather complicated and not well understood.