An overview

Written by John Sinatra

Rhumatoid arthritis is a debilitating disease that negatively impacts the quality of life of more than a million Americans. The disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes the body's immune system to attack the lining of patients' joints, causing inflammation and severe discomfort and reduced mobility in many cases.

The disease most often impacts the small joints of the hands and feet. Rhumatoid arthritis is a very painful illness, and can cause permanent joint damage that can cause frequent pain, deformity and disability. The earliest reported incidences of rhumatoid arthritis occurred in Ancient Egypt.

Today, there are about 1.2 million rheumatoid arthritis sufferers in America, mostly women. Females are three times more likely to develop rhumatoid arthritis than men. The disease most often manifests itself between the ages of 25 and 40, but younger people can and do develop the illness.

How it works

Rhumatoid arthritis causes the body's immune system to attack tissues in the joints called synovial membrane. This attack wears down these tissues and cause the joints to become inflamed. Over time rhumatoid arthritis can have severe impacts on the tissues and the joints, causing pain and a loss of mobility. Also, rhumatoid arthritis can cause inflammation in other parts of the body as well, such as the heart and lungs. The precise cause of rhumatoid arthritis is unknown, but heredity is suspected to be a factor in the illness.

Progression

Rhumatoid arthritis progresses over time in three identifiable stages. In the first stage, you experience swelling in your synovial lining. This often causes stiffness, redness, pain, warmth and swelling around the affected joint. In the second stage, your body experiences a rapid division and growth of cells which causes your synovium to thicken. When the disease progresses to the third stage, inflamed cells release enzymes that can destroy cartilage and bone, resulting in deformities of the joint that cause severe pain and impact movement.

Impact

Rhumatoid arthritis can have a severe impact on the lives of those suffering from the illness. Experts believe that the illness can reduce sufferers' life expectancy by five to 10 years. Quality of life is also severely impacted. Folks with rhumatoid arthritis often are unable to work within five years of the onset of rhumatoid arthritis.

Warning signs and treatment

Catching rhumatoid arthritis early is important in the treatment of this disease, as about 75 percent of the damage done by rhumatoid arthritis occurs within the first five years of the illness. There is no cure for this disease, but treatment can slow its progress and alleviate symptoms.

There are several warning signs that can point to rhumatoid arthritis, and can aid in the early identification of this illness. Joint pain is an early indicator of rhumatoid arthritis. As the illness damages the cartilage, the joints stop working correctly and swelling and pain occurs. Also, as the inflammation of the joints becomes more severe, the skin in the area of the joint becomes reddened. In the early stages of this illness, the stiffness of the joint occurs temporarily during the day, usually early in the morning when the patient awakens. Other early symptoms such as loss of appetite and fatigue may also often occur.

If caught early, treatment using disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and biologics can help slow the disease's progress. The DMARDs and biologic work to defend against problems with the immune system that cause rheumatic arthritis. According to experts, using DMARDs and biologics will mitigate damage to the joints. A recent study shows that if treatment begins within the first year of onset of rhumatoid arthritis, swelling, pain and joint damage can be reduced significantly.

There are a variety of tests doctors can run to test for rhumatoid arthritis. X-rays can help show where joints and joint tissue are deteriorating. Blood work can detect abnormal immune system activity. And blood tests can establish the presence of antibodies that cause rhumatoid arthritis.

In addition to drugs to control the progress of rhumatoid arthritis, there are also a number of other treatments that can help with pain management. These drugs include the use of cortisone shots, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs can help make the pain and discomfort caused by this illness more manageable. Surgery and physical therapy are also sometimes used in the treatment of rhumatoid arthritis.

Because of the debilitating impact of rhumatoid arthritis and its potential to disable sufferers, early diagnosis and treatment is extremely desirable. With the appropriate care, rhumatoid arthritis' impact on sufferers' quality of life can be mitigated.