24/10/2024
What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is what doctors call an autoimmune condition. It starts when your immune system, which is supposed to protect you, goes awry and begins to attack your bodyโs tissues. It causes inflammation in the lining of your joints. As a result, your joints may get red, warm, swollen, and painful.
RA affects joints on both sides of the body, such as both hands, both wrists, or both knees. This symmetry helps to set it apart from other types of arthritis. Over time, RA can affect other body
parts and systems, from your eyes to your heart, lungs, skin, blood vessels, and more.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
1. Joint pain and swelling
2. Stiffness, especially in the morning or after you sit for a long time
Rheumatoid arthritis affects everyone differently. For some, joint symptoms happen gradually over several years. In others, it may come on quickly.
Some people may have rheumatoid arthritis for a short time and then go into remission, which means they donโt have symptoms.
Early rheumatoid arthritis symptoms
Your joints might be tender and painful, even though you don't see redness or swelling. The first joints affected might be smaller ones, such as where your fingers attach to your hand and your
toes to your feet.
Unusual symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
1. Fatigue
2. Low-grade fever
3. Dry, sensitive eyes
4. Dry mouth and gum irritation or infection
5. Shortness of breath
6. Low red blood cell count
The disease is two to three times more common in women than in men, but men tend to have more severe symptoms. It usually starts in middle age. But young children and the elderly also can get it.
Things that increase your risk of RA include:
1. Family history of RA
2. Smoking
3. Being overweight
Rheumatoid arthritis in hands
In addition to swelling, pain, and stiffness, RA can affect your hands in these ways:
1. A soft lump develops on the back of your hand.
2. Swelling of the fingers makes them look like sausages.
3. A creaking sound happens when you move your fingers.
4. A clicking sound happens when you bend your finger joints.
5. You can& #39;t straighten your fingers or thumb.
6. The tip of your finger may be bent.
7. The middle joint of your finger is bent and your fingertip is straightened too far.
Rheumatoid arthritis in feet
The most common symptoms are swelling, pain, and stiffness. Other symptoms include:
1. Trouble with ramps and stairs if your ankle is affected
2. Trouble walking on uneven surfaces, such as grass or gravel
3. Arch collapse, making the front of your foot point out
4. Bony bumps that make it hard to wear shoes
5. Bunions and claw toes (toes permanently bent)
Rheumatoid arthritis tests
Your doctor may order X-rays to look for damage to your joints.
You also may have blood drawn for testing. Things your doctor will check for include:
1. Anemia: People with rheumatoid arthritis may have a low number of red blood cells.
2. C-reactive protein (CRP): High levels of this substance are a sign of inflammation. Some
people with rheumatoid arthritis also may have a positive antinuclear antibody test (ANA), which
indicates an autoimmune disease, but the test does not specify which autoimmune disease.
3. Cyclic citrulline peptide antibody test (anti-CCP): This more specific test checks for anti-
CCP antibodies, which suggest you might have a more aggressive form of rheumatoid arthritis.
4. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR): How fast your blood clumps up in the bottom of a test
tube shows there may be inflammation in your system.
5. Rheumatoid factor (RF). Most, but not all, people with rheumatoid arthritis have this antibody
in their blood. But it can show up in people who donโt have RA.
Contact us for blood sample collection 093300 53923
