Rheumatoid Arthritis
Karen Lavender & Warren Wilson
Rheumatoid Arthritis and its Affects
Rheumatoid arthritis affects the many joints in our bodies and is not prominent in any one place over the other. This type of arthritis also affects the heart, lungs and the blood as well. Rheumatoid arthritis is the inflammation of synovium, or joint lining. The pain suffered from this extremely painful disease can be from stiffness, redness, swelling, and warmth. The joints that are affected over time may lose their shape and will result in the loss of normal everyday movement. Rheumatoid arthritis generally starts around the age of twenty and can last a lifetime. This type of disease typically flares and can have active symptoms or in remissions with no symptoms or only a few of them.
The Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis affect each person differently but in general have the same affects. Rheumatoid arthritis is a symmetrical pattern disease, which means that if one side of the body if affected, the other side is affected at the same time as well. Joint tenderness, swelling and stiffness can last for more then an hour after a long rest period and in the mornings as well, in some cases, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms can last for an extended period. Malaise is the most common symptom of this disease; it is a general feeling of fatigue and can have a persistent fever with an overall sense of not feeling well.
What are the causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is as autoimmune disease, which means that the body's immune system is not working as it should and lets the rheumatoid arthritis disease attack the healthy joints and the tissues around it, allowing for the initiation of joint damage and inflammation. No one is positive on the exact cause of why people get rheumatoid arthritis, but many scientists believe there are a lot of common factors among the people that suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. Hereditary and genetics is a major contribution to the onset of rheumatoid arthritis, the particular genes that are passed from one family member to next. Some professionals also believe that rheumatoid arthritis can be caused from a trigger like an infection caused by bacterium or a virus in people that have the inherited tendency for the rheumatoid arthritis disease. Rheumatoid arthritis in a way, may be triggered through a virus, yet it is not something that is contagious and you cannot give it to other people, you cannot "catch it"
About the author:
Warren and Karen have been involved in the internet for a number
of years and run several websites. They are most interested in
providing opportunities for people to connect with information
relating to business, health and creativity. Check out their Rheumatoid Arthritis blog for
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The latest information and news on Arthritis Advice :
Federal officials ordered stronger warnings on four medications widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other serious illnesses, saying they can raise the risk of possibly fatal fungal infections.
FDA orders stronger warnings for arthritis drugs (Lake County News-Sun)
The Food and Drug Administration has ordered stronger warnings on four medications -- including Abbott Laboratories's blockbuster Humira -- widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other serious illnesses, saying they can raise the risk of possibly fatal fungal infections.
US orders stronger warnings for 4 arthritis drugs (GMA News)
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ordered stronger warnings Thursday on four medications widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other serious illnesses, saying they can raise the risk of possibly fatal fungal infections.
Deaths Heighten Arthritis Drugs Warning (MedicineNet.com)
Title: Deaths Heighten Arthritis Drugs Warning Category: Health News Created: 9/5/2008 Last Editorial Review: 9/5/2008
Half of Adults Will Get Knee Arthritis (WebMD)
Nearly half of Americans are likely to develop arthritis in at least one knee by age 85, a study shows.
Stronger Warnings Ordered on Arthritis Drugs (New York Times)
Federal health regulators ordered new warning language for prescription drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn?s disease and other conditions after a dozen patients died.
Arthritis Meds May Lead To Fungal Infections (WSB-TV 2 Atlanta)
The FDA finds a link between four arthritis drugs and histoplasmosis infections.
FDA orders stronger warnings for 4 arthritis drugs (AP via Yahoo! News)
The Food and Drug Administration ordered stronger warnings Thursday on four medications widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other serious illnesses, saying they can raise the risk of possibly fatal fungal infections.
FDA orders stronger warnings for 4 arthritis drugs (Atlanta Journal-Constitut...
The Food and Drug Administration ordered stronger warnings Thursday on four medications widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other serious illnesses, saying they can raise the risk of possibly fatal fungal infections. The drugs ? Enbrel, Remicade, Humira and Cimzia ? work by suppressing the immune system to keep it from attacking the body. For patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the ...
FDA warns on arthritis drugs (CNN Money)
Government regulators order stronger warnings for four types of arthritis medication, saying they can increase risk of death by infection.