Rheumatoid Arthritis And treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is the most common inflammatory joint disease. Floor joints in the face "synovium" to deal with inflammation and cartilage tissue, bones, tendons and ligaments can do in the destruction. Progressive disease of the joints may also affect internal organs by. Amount to more than one joint is usually long term (chronic), but long-lasting silent periods between attacks may also occur. Exact cause is unknown, this disease can vary from person to person. Is usually a disease of young-middle aged adults and three times more women than men are.

How is separated from other joint diseases?
Rheumatoid arthritis from other rheumatic most distinctive feature is that some laboratory tests, which involves joints. RA usually many joints of the wrist and hand holds, but the quotes in the joints near the tip (excluding the thumb) is not impressed. Osteoarthritis (arthritis), the joints near the ill, contrary to toe.

RA elbow, shoulder, neck, jaw, hip, knee, ankle and foot joints may also be involved. Other regions of the spine in the neck outside involvement is rare. Usually, the joints on both sides of the body becomes sick. If the right hand, that several joint swelling, most likely in the left hand joints swelling and limitation of movement will mean.

What causes rheumatoid arthritis?
RA the immune system is impaired and your body to its own tissues as foreign to detect and fight against it starts. Inflammation in the joints of these cells into tissues and cells are collected damaging substances (enzymes, antibodies, cytokines) are secreted.

Is there a role for genes?
RA directly from parents is not a genetic disease çoçuğa days. The transition state of susceptibility genes may vary, but Ra. Many patients with RA in the HLA-DR4 has called a specific genetic determinants that's been shown.

Infection, rheumatoid arthritis, you will start?
RA since many researchers and doctors believe the infection may play a role, but is not proven. RA is an infectious disease. Found widely in the environment of a microbe, Ra in individuals with predisposition to disease caused by disrupting the immune system is assumed.

What are the symptoms of RA?
RA can vary greatly from person to person. Almost all patients, a chronic joint symptoms, but the fluctuations continue. Disease is less severe in some people, just the time when attacks occur. Some of the more severe progressive destruction over time makes.

If you have RA disease, joints involved increased heat, swelling, tenderness, redness and pain will have. Especially pronounced in the morning with difficulty in moving joints, stiffness can be felt. In the event of your illness lasts longer deformed joints may occur.

RA, especially during attacks may be a general malaise. Decreased appetite, weight loss, sometimes a mild fever, decreased energy, anemia may occur. Pressure of approximately 20% of patients under the skin in exposed areas, "nodules" can develop, called hardness. Although often at the elbow may be in other parts of the body and even internal organs may also occur.

How is RA diagnosed?
RA can be diagnosed in the early diagnosis is important because in this era and the beginning of treatment, at least in the amount of permanent joint damage. For RA diagnosis, your doctor by taking a detailed history and physical examination are necessary for your. Specific laboratory tests and x-ray examinations may be requested. "Rheumatoid factor" test is positive diagnosis is called support. High erythrocyte sedimentation rate, low hemoglobin (anemia) are among the findings of other laboratories. Should not forget that these tests are the ones only as a guide. But the final diagnosis of patients by physicians as a whole, the evaluation is made.

How is RA treated?
Is still no cure for RA. The methods used to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and joint damage or stop the patient's function is to improve the quality of life with.

Drug therapy in RA can be analyzed in two groups;
1. To resolve complaints of short-acting drugs, aspirin, non-steroidal anti-rheumatic drugs, pain relievers, cortisone needed.
2. Long-acting medications, methotrexate, chloroquine-hydroxychloroquine, gold salts, cyclosporine, sulfasalazine, D-penicillamine, azathiopurine, etanercept, infliximab like.

All of these drugs should be monitored periodically decrease in blood cells, kidney and liver side effects such as changes are available. Many of these effects of sex and drugs are controlled by adjusting the dose. The patient's vital to be conscious about it.

Treatment of private patients is planned, in this severity of the disease, accompanied in the forefront of health problems and individual needs are kept. Rest of the most important part of the treatment of RA patients. Blazing particularly acute during periods of rest is recommended that the joints. Apart from the acute phase, the patient was feeling unwell at times given a balanced exercise benefits patients.

Preservation of joint function, however, to prevent deformities, "splint" is called advantage of some simple devices. They are very effective in preventing deformities splint. Moreover, by applying some rules may also help prevent deformities:

a. Small joints of doing business make sure you use large joints. Ie when the door opens not with your hands, push your arm, not your fingers or your hand, open the jar opening.
b. Adding load to distribute more than one joint instead of working. Eg remove a book, keep your hands and remove when not one but two.
c. Joints most "natural" position of trying to use. Excessive bending and avoids the difficult.
In some patients to correct deformities, relieve pain or joint can be used to bring cases may require surgery.

Treatment decisions at all stages of a close cooperation between physicians and patients are needed.