Overview of What Arthritis Is
Title:
Overview of What Arthritis Is
Word Count:
3292
Summary:
The nagging pains and physical limitations of the more than 100 forms of arthritis are common
Keywords:
arthritis, treatment of arthritis, cure of arthritis, prevention of arthritis
Article Body:
Unlike osteoarthritis, which results from wear and tear on your joints, rheumatoid arthritis i
Rheumatoid arthritis is two to three times more common in women than in men and generally stri
There’s no cure for rheumatoid arthritis. But with proper treatment, a strategy for joint prot
Signs and symptoms
The signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may come and go over time. They include:
* Pain and swelling in your joints, especially in the smaller joints of your hands and fee
* Generalized aching or stiffness of the joints and muscles, especially after sleep or aft
* Loss of motion of the affected joints
* Loss of strength in muscles attached to the affected joints
* Fatigue, which can be severe during a flare-up
* Low-grade fever
* Deformity of your joints over time
* General sense of not feeling well (malaise)
Rheumatoid arthritis usually causes problems in several joints at the same time. Early in rheu
Small lumps, called rheumatoid nodules, may form under your skin at pressure points and can oc
In contrast to osteoarthritis, which affects only your bones and joints, rheumatoid arthritis
Although rheumatoid arthritis is often a chronic disease, it tends to vary in severity and may
Swelling or deformity may limit the flexibility of your joints. But even if you have a severe
Illustration comparing rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, involves the wearing away of the cartilage
More On This Topic
* Osteoarthritis
Causes
As with other forms of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis involves inflammation of the joints. A
This inflammation results in the release of proteins that, over months or years, cause thicken
Some researchers suspect that rheumatoid arthritis is triggered by an infection ˙ possibly a v
Illustration showing inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis typically strikes joints, causing pain, swelling and deformity. As your s
Risk factors
The exact causes of rheumatoid arthritis are unclear, but these factors may increase your risk
* Getting older, because incidence of rheumatoid arthritis increases with age. However, in
* Being female.
* Being exposed to an infection, possibly a virus or bacterium, that may trigger rheumatoi
* Inheriting specific genes that may make you more susceptible to rheumatoid arthritis.
* Smoking cigarettes over a long period of time.
When to seek medical advice
See your doctor if you have persistent discomfort and swelling in multiple joints on both side
Screening and diagnosis
If you have signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor will likely conduct a phys
* Blood tests. A blood test that measures your erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR or sed
Another blood test looks for an antibody called rheumatoid factor. Most people with rheu
* Imaging. Doctors may take X-rays of your joints to differentiate between osteoarthritis a
Complications
Rheumatoid arthritis causes stiffness and pain and may also cause fatigue. It can lead to diff
Rheumatoid arthritis may also increase your risk of developing osteoporosis, especially if you
In the past, people with rheumatoid arthritis may have ended up confined to a wheelchair becau
More On This Topic
* Osteoporosis
Treatment
Treatments for arthritis have improved in recent years. Most treatments involve medications. B
Medications
Medications for rheumatoid arthritis can relieve its symptoms and slow or halt its progression
* Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This group of medications, which includes
* COX-2 inhibitors. This class of NSAIDs may be less damaging to your stomach. Like other
* Corticosteroids. These medications, such as prednisone and methylprednisolone (Medrol),
* Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Physicians prescribe DMARDs to limit the
* Immunosuppressants. These medications act to tame your immune system, which is out of co
* TNF blockers. These are a class of DMARDs known as biologic response modifiers. TNF is a
* Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). IL-1Ra is another type of biologic response
* Abatacept (Orencia). Abatacept, a type of costimulation modulator approved in late 2005,
* Rituximab (Rituxan). Rituximab reduces the number of B cells in your body. B cells are i
* Antidepressant drugs. Some people with arthritis also experience symptoms of depression.
Surgical or other procedures
Although a combination of medication and self-care is the first course of action for rheumatoi
* Prosorba column. This blood-filtering technique removes certain antibodies that contribu
* Joint replacement surgery. For many people with rheumatoid arthritis, medicines and ther
More On This Topic
* Steroid use: Balancing the risks and benefits
* Are COX-2 drugs safe for you? An interview with a Mayo Clinic specialist
* Knee replacement: Surgery can relieve pain
Self-care
Treating rheumatoid arthritis typically involves using a combination of medical treatments and
* Exercise regularly. Different types of exercise achieve different goals. Check with your
It’s good to move each joint in its full range of motion every day. As you move, maintai
* Control your weight. Excess weight puts added stress on joints in your back, hips, knees
* Eat a healthy diet. A healthy diet emphasizing fruit, vegetables and whole grains can he
* Apply heat. Heat will help ease your pain, relax tense, painful muscles and increase the
* Apply cold for occasional flare-ups. Cold may dull the sensation of pain. Cold also has
* Practice relaxation techniques. Hypnosis, guided imagery, deep breathing and muscle rela
* Take your medications as recommended. By taking medications regularly instead of waiting
Coping skills
The degree to which rheumatoid arthritis affects your daily activities depends in part on how
* Keep a positive attitude. With your doctor, make a plan for managing your arthritis. Thi
* Use assistive devices. A painful knee may need a brace for support. You might also want
* Know your limits. Rest when you’re tired. Arthritis can make you prone to fatigue and mu
* Avoid grasping actions that strain your finger joints. Instead of using a clutch purse,
* Spread the weight of an object over several joints. For instance, use both hands to lift
* Take a break. Periodically relax and stretch.
* Maintain good posture. Poor posture causes uneven weight distribution and may strain lig
* Use your strongest muscles and favor large joints. Don’t push open a heavy glass door. L
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Overview of What Arthritis Is
Word Count:
3292
Summary:
The nagging pains and physical limitations of the more than 100 forms of arthritis are common
Keywords:
arthritis, treatment of arthritis, cure of arthritis, prevention of arthritis
Article Body:
Unlike osteoarthritis, which results from wear and tear on your joints, rheumatoid arthritis i
Rheumatoid arthritis is two to three times more common in women than in men and generally stri
There’s no cure for rheumatoid arthritis. But with proper treatment, a strategy for joint prot
Signs and symptoms
The signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may come and go over time. They include:
* Pain and swelling in your joints, especially in the smaller joints of your hands and fee
* Generalized aching or stiffness of the joints and muscles, especially after sleep or aft
* Loss of motion of the affected joints
* Loss of strength in muscles attached to the affected joints
* Fatigue, which can be severe during a flare-up
* Low-grade fever
* Deformity of your joints over time
* General sense of not feeling well (malaise)
Rheumatoid arthritis usually causes problems in several joints at the same time. Early in rheu
Small lumps, called rheumatoid nodules, may form under your skin at pressure points and can oc
In contrast to osteoarthritis, which affects only your bones and joints, rheumatoid arthritis
Although rheumatoid arthritis is often a chronic disease, it tends to vary in severity and may
Swelling or deformity may limit the flexibility of your joints. But even if you have a severe
Illustration comparing rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, involves the wearing away of the cartilage
* Osteoarthritis
Causes
As with other forms of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis involves inflammation of the joints. A
This inflammation results in the release of proteins that, over months or years, cause thicken
Some researchers suspect that rheumatoid arthritis is triggered by an infection ˙ possibly a v
Illustration showing inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis typically strikes joints, causing pain, swelling and deformity. As your s
Risk factors
The exact causes of rheumatoid arthritis are unclear, but these factors may increase your risk
* Getting older, because incidence of rheumatoid arthritis increases with age. However, in
* Being female.
* Being exposed to an infection, possibly a virus or bacterium, that may trigger rheumatoi
* Inheriting specific genes that may make you more susceptible to rheumatoid arthritis.
* Smoking cigarettes over a long period of time.
When to seek medical advice
See your doctor if you have persistent discomfort and swelling in multiple joints on both side
Screening and diagnosis
If you have signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor will likely conduct a phys
* Blood tests. A blood test that measures your erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR or sed
Another blood test looks for an antibody called rheumatoid factor. Most people with rheu
* Imaging. Doctors may take X-rays of your joints to differentiate between osteoarthritis a
Complications
Rheumatoid arthritis causes stiffness and pain and may also cause fatigue. It can lead to diff
Rheumatoid arthritis may also increase your risk of developing osteoporosis, especially if you
In the past, people with rheumatoid arthritis may have ended up confined to a wheelchair becau
* Osteoporosis
Treatment
Treatments for arthritis have improved in recent years. Most treatments involve medications. B
Medications
Medications for rheumatoid arthritis can relieve its symptoms and slow or halt its progression
* Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This group of medications, which includes
* COX-2 inhibitors. This class of NSAIDs may be less damaging to your stomach. Like other
* Corticosteroids. These medications, such as prednisone and methylprednisolone (Medrol),
* Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Physicians prescribe DMARDs to limit the
* Immunosuppressants. These medications act to tame your immune system, which is out of co
* TNF blockers. These are a class of DMARDs known as biologic response modifiers. TNF is a
* Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). IL-1Ra is another type of biologic response
* Abatacept (Orencia). Abatacept, a type of costimulation modulator approved in late 2005,
* Rituximab (Rituxan). Rituximab reduces the number of B cells in your body. B cells are i
* Antidepressant drugs. Some people with arthritis also experience symptoms of depression.
Surgical or other procedures
Although a combination of medication and self-care is the first course of action for rheumatoi
* Prosorba column. This blood-filtering technique removes certain antibodies that contribu
* Joint replacement surgery. For many people with rheumatoid arthritis, medicines and ther
* Steroid use: Balancing the risks and benefits
* Are COX-2 drugs safe for you? An interview with a Mayo Clinic specialist
* Knee replacement: Surgery can relieve pain
Self-care
Treating rheumatoid arthritis typically involves using a combination of medical treatments and
* Exercise regularly. Different types of exercise achieve different goals. Check with your
It’s good to move each joint in its full range of motion every day. As you move, maintai
* Control your weight. Excess weight puts added stress on joints in your back, hips, knees
* Eat a healthy diet. A healthy diet emphasizing fruit, vegetables and whole grains can he
* Apply heat. Heat will help ease your pain, relax tense, painful muscles and increase the
* Apply cold for occasional flare-ups. Cold may dull the sensation of pain. Cold also has
* Practice relaxation techniques. Hypnosis, guided imagery, deep breathing and muscle rela
* Take your medications as recommended. By taking medications regularly instead of waiting
Coping skills
The degree to which rheumatoid arthritis affects your daily activities depends in part on how
* Keep a positive attitude. With your doctor, make a plan for managing your arthritis. Thi
* Use assistive devices. A painful knee may need a brace for support. You might also want
* Know your limits. Rest when you’re tired. Arthritis can make you prone to fatigue and mu
* Avoid grasping actions that strain your finger joints. Instead of using a clutch purse,
* Spread the weight of an object over several joints. For instance, use both hands to lift
* Take a break. Periodically relax and stretch.
* Maintain good posture. Poor posture causes uneven weight distribution and may strain lig
* Use your strongest muscles and favor large joints. Don’t push open a heavy glass door. L
This is a demo version of txt2pdf v.10.1
Developed by SANFACE Software http://www.sanface.com/
Available at http://www.sanface.com/txt2pdf.html