Arthritis is a blanket term for over 100 reasons as to why the joints of your body become swollen and inflamed. The main categories of arthritis are divided into rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Perhaps the most common is rheumatoid arthritis (also known as rheumatism). It is generally thought that the biggest rheumatoid arthritis cause is a failure of the body's immune system. Somehow, it doesn't recognize itself and attacks itself at the joints.
Still A Mystery
There is a lot about rheumatoid arthritis causes that remains a mystery. This is one reason why getting the diagnosis is so dreaded and whey there isn't a rheumatoid arthritis cure. It is thought that until we can understand the one or more rheumatoid arthritis causes that there are, we will never be able to find a safe and consistent cure.
We do have a working model as to rheumatoid arthritis causes. It is thought that the white blood cells of your body (which fight and destroy anything they do not recognize) travel from your blood into your synovial fluid (the cushioning fluid around your joints). Why the white blood cells go there is only one of the mysteries. We don't know what the white blood cells are going after. All we know for sure is that when the white blood cells start traveling, pain is sure to follow.
A Perfect Storm
The latest theories about a probable rheumatoid arthritis cause insist that we cannot point a finger at any single factor. They say that there has to be a wide combination of factors all happening in the wrong place at the wrong time. This all sets the body up in a perfect storm for rheumatoid arthritis.
These factors could include your genetic makeup, your lifestyle choices, your diet, how sedentary you are, your career, any injuries you've had in the past, what illnesses you've had in the past and what medications you've taken throughout your life.
You Can Do Something
Although the elusive rheumatoid arthritis cause currently eludes us, you do not have to resign yourself to unavoidably getting it. You can do a lot to reduce your chances of getting it, or getting a milder form of it. But even the early stages of arthritis needs to be treated under a doctor or a rheumatologist's care. Don't smoke, don't overindulge in alcoholic drinks, don't let yourself get grossly overweight, exercise regularly and eat a sensible, varied and balanced diet.
Unlike osteoarthritis, which is caused by wear and tear on the joints, RA is an inflammatory condition. Its exact cause is unknown, but researchers believe that it is the caused when the body's immune system attacks the tissue that lines the joints.
Who gets Rheumatoid Arthritis? Women between the ages of 20 and 50 years of age, fall victim to this debilitating disease two to three times more than men. Statistics show that no one is immune from it, however. Even children and the elderly have been diagnosed. To date, there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but treatments are being used to help sufferers protect joint damage in order to live more productive lives.
The Symptoms: The signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may come and go over time, according to Mayo Clinic experts, and may include:
-Pain and swelling of the joints, especially in the hands and feet. -Generalized aching or feelings of stiffness of the joints and muscles. -Loss of motion. -Loss of strength in muscles attached to the affected joints. -Fatigue, which can be severe during a flare-up. -Low-grade fever. -Deformity of the joints. -General sense of not feeling well.
Rheumatoid arthritis usually causes pain in several joints at the same time. In its early stages, the joints of the wrists, hands, feet and knees are most affected, followed by pain in the shoulders, elbows, hips, jaw and neck as the disease progresses.
Small lumps, called rheumatoid nodules, are also common under the skin of the elbows, hands, feet and Achilles tendons during outbreaks. They can be as small as a pea, or as large as a walnut, and generally aren't painful.
Considered a chronic disease, rheumatoid arthritis features severe flare-ups featuring severe swelling, pain and weakness, followed by days, weeks or months of normalcy.
What Causes Rheumatoid Arthritis? Although a specific cause is not known, some researchers suspect that rheumatoid arthritis is triggered by a virus or bacterium infection in some people. Hormones are also being researched as a development factor.
Risk Factors: With no known cause, it's hard to know for sure who will get RA, but some risk factors may include:
-Age. The risk of getting rheumatoid arthritis seems to increase with age, until age 80, where it suddenly decreases.
-Sex. Females are more likely to contract RA then men.
-Viral Exposure. Being exposed to an infection, possibly a virus or bacterium that may trigger rheumatoid arthritis.
-Genes. Inheriting specific genes may make some people more susceptible.
When To See A Doctor: Persistent discomfort and swelling in multiple joints on both sides of the body may be a sign that it's time to seek medical treatment. Your doctor can work with you to develop a pain management and treatment plan for your rheumatoid arthritis.
Both Scott Goodman & Matthew Hick are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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