What is Rheumatoid Arthritis

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

RA mainly causes swelling, stiffness and pain in the affected joints. The sufferer usually feels mild stiffness and difficulty in movement initially that mainly occurs in the morning on waking up. This is called morning stiffness.

Slowly the symptoms may worsen as the joint is affected to a greater extent leading to severe pain on movements and difficulty in performing daily tasks.

Symptoms may suddenly worsen. This is called a flare up. Flare ups may be sudden and without warning and may worsen symptoms to a great extent leading to severe disability.

Pathology of rheumatoid arthritis

RA is an autoimmune disease. The body’s immune system acts as the defence system in the body attacking foreign microbes ทางเข้า ufabet https://ufabet999.app and proteins. In some disorders, this immune system turns on the body’s own cells and proteins and begins to attack and destroy them. In RA, the immunity attacks the cells that line the joints and make them swollen, inflamed and stiff. This leads to severe pain.

Cartilage and synovium forms a cushion that acts as a shock absorber in the joints. Autoimmunity and inflammatory processes of RA commonly affect these cartilages and synovial cells and damage them. Lack of these elements in the joint, leads to increased friction and damage to the joint.

Rheumatoid arthritis epidemiology

RA affects nearly 600,000 people in England and Wales and affects females between ages 40 and 70 more commonly than males. Worldwide, females are three times more likely to suffer from RA than males.

RA however can affect younger persons. Worldwide around 1% of the total population affecte by this condition.

Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

Diagnosis is primarily suspect with presence of signs and symptoms. There are however several symptoms of RA that are common with other types of autoimmune disorders and arthritis. These diagnoses need to be rule out. Before confirming RA. Blood tests including those for Rheumatoid factor and imaging studies like X rays are use for diagnosis of RA.