Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are similar to other types of arthritis. This is a disease involving the immune system. It causes chronic inflammation of the joints and the tissues around the joints and also the other organs in the body. When the body’s tissues are attacked by its own immune system by mistake, then the disease is called an autoimmune disease which is true with rheumatoid arthritis.

This type of disease is a chronic illness. The rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may not manifest for a long period even if the patient is already sick. Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive disease that may cause joint damage and functional disability.

The word arthritis means the inflammation of the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms when not treated results to the damage of the cartilage, bone and ligaments and the joints become deformed. Destruction of the joints can happen during the early years of the disease and be progressive.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a common rheumatic disease affecting millions of people and is more common in women than in men. It afflicts all races and can begin at any age. It most often starts after the age of 40 and before 60. In some families, several members maybe afflicted which suggests that genetic is a cause for this disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a serious inflammatory disease that may affect many tissues and organs but principally attacks the joints that usually progresses to damage of the articular cartilage and ankylosis of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are detected with blood tests and X-rays. A rheumatologist who is an expert in the disease of joints and tissues can diagnose and perform long-term management of this disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may include extra-curricular or outside the joints manifestations are clinically evident in 15-25% of rheumatoid cases aside from affecting the joints and other body organs. The joints become swollen tender and warm and stiff thus their movements become limited. As the disease progresses with time, it affects multiple joints, most commonly the small joints of the hands, feet and cervical spine. Larger joints like the shoulder and knee can also be affected but it varies per patient.

The fingers may become deformed depending which joints are most affected. Fibrosis of the lungs may also occur in rheumatoid arthritis. It can also affect the kidney but this is less well documented. The heart and blood vessels may also be affected which may lead to the risk of myocardial infarction or heart attack and stroke. Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include increased stiffness in the neck in the morning which may last for more than one hour.