The lifetime risk of developing RA for U. However, RA can present at any age — even small children can develop it. RA increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. It can also attack the pericardium, the lining of the heart, and cause inflammation throughout the body. According to a Swedish study, risk of heart attack is 60 percent higher at 1 year following an RA diagnosis. Infections may be responsible for one quarter of deaths in people with RA.
Although there is no cure for RA, there are many different treatment options designed to relieve symptoms and prevent long-term joint damage. Doctors may prescribe medication , lifestyle changes, or a combination of both, with a goal of achieving a state of remission.
A recent approach to treating RA suggests the use of aggressive treatment in the early stages of the onset of RA to prevent it from graduating to a more serious and long-lasting state.
Your doctor will generally recommend certain exercises beginning with stretching and then working up to strength training , aerobic exercises, water therapy, and tai chi. Experimenting with dietary changes , such as elimination diets, can help people with RA discover certain foods that may trigger or relieve RA symptoms.
There is some scientific evidence correlating diet and RA treatment, such as decreasing sugar, eliminating gluten, and increasing omega-3s. There are also many herbal remedies used for the treatment of RA, although the current research that proves their effectiveness remains controversial. Because many people living with RA often experience chronic pain, it can be very beneficial to learn stress management and relaxation techniques, such as guided meditation, mindfulness, breathing exercises, biofeedback, journaling, and other holistic coping modalities.
RA can make simple tasks like getting out of bed and getting dressed in the morning challenging, let alone holding down a regular job. People with RA are more likely to:. In addition to the financial costs of this disease, the quality-of-life cost is high. Compared with those who do not have arthritis, people with RA are more likely to:. RA does not currently have a cure. However, many effective treatments have been developed over the last 30 years, that aim to lower inflammation and pain, prevent joint damage, and slow the progression and damage of the disease.
Rheumatoid arthritis RA is a progressive autoimmune disease that mainly affects your joints. The exact cause of RA is unknown, but genetics…. RA symptoms may come and go.
Having a lot of inflammation and other symptoms is called a flare. A flare can last for days or months. Getting an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible is the first step to treating RA effectively. A doctor with specialized training in treating arthritis called a rheumatologist is the best person to make a correct diagnosis, using medical history, a physical examination and lab tests.
Medical history. The doctor will ask about joint symptoms pain, tenderness, stiffness, difficulty moving , when they started, if they come and go, how severe they are, what actions make them better or worse and whether family members have RA or another autoimmune disease.
Physical examination. The doctor will look for joint tenderness, swelling, warmth and painful or limited movement, bumps under the skin or a low-grade fever. Blood tests. The blood tests look for inflammation and blood proteins antibodies that are linked to RA:. Imaging tests. RA can cause the ends of the bones within a joint to wear down erosions. An X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI magnetic resonance imaging scan can look for erosions. Imaging results can also show how well treatment is working.
Search arthritis. Working with your doctor to ensure you get appropriate medical treatment is essential, but you can also take measures on your own to manage your RA and ease pain and fatigue. Diet, exercise, smoking cessation and mental health are all key to good health overall and controlling RA. Get help setting health goals and managing pain with the free Vim app. Healthy Eating. A balanced, nutritious diet consisting of the recommended amounts of all the food groups helps promote wellness and makes it easier to maintain a healthy weight.
Daily movement. Use the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Park in a spot that makes you walk a bit to enter a building. Take the longer way to a meeting in your office. Balancing activity with rest. It's important to try to stay physically active even during a flare, but rest is also especially important when RA is active and joints feel painful, swollen or stiff.
Rest helps reduce inflammation and fatigue that can come with a flare. Taking breaks throughout the day protects joints and preserves energy. Heat treatments , such as heat pads or warm baths, tend to work best for soothing stiff joints and tired muscles. Cold is best for acute pain and swollen joints. It can numb painful areas and reduce inflammation. Topical products. These creams, gels or stick-on patches can ease the pain in a joint or muscle. Stress Reduction and Complementary Therapies.
There are different ways to relax and stop focusing on pain. They include meditation , deep breathing, and thinking about images in your mind that make you feel happy. Massage can help reduce pain, relax sore muscles and ease stress or anxiety. Acupuncture involves inserting fine needles into the body along special points to relieve pain. However, talk with a doctor before taking any supplement to discuss side effects and how it may affect other medicines you are taking. Positive Attitude and Support System.
Cultivate a network of friends, family members and co-workers who can help provide emotional support. Take time to do things that you enjoy to lift your mood, which can help relieve pain. Every gift to the Arthritis Foundation will help people with arthritis across the U. Health Home Conditions and Diseases Arthritis. What causes rheumatoid arthritis? What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis? How is rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed? Tests may also be done, such as: X-ray. This test uses a small amount of radiation to create images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film.
Joint aspiration. For this test, a small fluid sample is taken from a swollen joint. It is done to look for signs of infection or gout. Nodule biopsy. Tiny tissue samples are taken to look at under a microscope. This helps to check for cancer or other abnormal cells.
Blood tests. These tests are done to find certain antibodies, called rheumatoid factor, cyclic citrullinated antibody, and other signs of RA. Ultrasound or MRI. These imaging tests can look for bone damage and inflammation. How is rheumatoid arthritis treated? Your healthcare provider will figure out the best treatment for you based on: How old you are Your overall health and medical history How sick you are How well you handle certain medicines, treatments, or therapies If your condition is expected to get worse Your opinion or preference There is no cure for RA.
Treatment may include: Medicines. Some medicines may be used for pain relief. Some are used to treat inflammation. Others can help to slow the disease from getting worse. Medicines should be managed by a rheumatologist. This is a doctor who specializes in arthritis and rheumatic diseases.
You may need regular blood tests to check how the medicines affect your blood cells, liver, and kidneys. Splints may be used to help protect the joints and strengthen weak joints. Physical therapy. Physical therapy may be used to help increase the strength and movement of the affected areas. Joint repair or reconstruction can be done in many ways, including: Surgical cleaning.
This surgery removes inflamed and diseased tissues in the hands to help increase function. Joint replacement arthroplasty. This type of surgery may be used in cases of severe arthritis of the hand. It may be done on older adults who are not so active. Joint replacement may reduce pain and help increase joint function.
During the surgery, a joint that has been destroyed by the disease is replaced with an artificial joint. The new joint may be made out of metal, plastic, or silicone rubber.
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