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Rheumatoid Arthritis

by: RayLam
Total views: 11 | Word Count: 375

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 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.

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.

The main physical difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is that with osteoarthritis when the cartilage between the bone ends has worn thin the pain results from the bone ends rubbing together. And with rheumatoid arthritis the cartilage is not thinned but the fluid filled membrane surrounding the joint becomes inflamed and the bones can actually start eroding.

It is suspected that susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis is an inherited trait. The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, but it's believed to be the body's immune system attacking the tissue that lines your joints. But rheumatoid arthritis can also affect young children and adults older than age 50.

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About the Author

Learn more about arthritis remedy and get your limited FREE report on Best Arthritis Cures by visiting http://arthritis-cure-tips.info for free Arthritis Cure and Relief tips and advice.  

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FollowText.com » Health » Rheumatoid Arthritis

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