Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
Do you ever consider how important your joints are? Think of a car. It does not run efficiently if the joints are not in working order.
Much like the human body and its reliance on healthy joints to function properly.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an illness that affects your bones and joints – commonly in your hands and legs. It is an autoimmune disease which means that the immune system attacks healthy cells in the body. RA manifests as swelling and inflammation. The disease stiffens your joints, making movements (even simple ones) difficult and often painful. While RA tends to affect older people, younger people can also suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.
Common symptoms include:
Pay attention to the health of your feet as RA can often start there first.
- Aching, painful joints in your legs, arms, feet
- Warm, swollen joints
- Joint pain that feels worse in the morning (stiffness)
- Unexplained weight loss
- Constant fatigue
- Limited range of motion
Help at hand
RA can be debilitating so before it gets to a point where you can’t walk at all, see your doctor for a complete diagnosis and treatment options. Joint replacements are commonplace now and with the very best technology and treatments at hand, you can live with rheumatoid arthritis.
Pain medication may be prescribed, as well as physiotherapy or even joint replacement surgery for severe cases. In most instances, your doctor will suggest nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Steroid medication like Prednisone is also common.
Take daily walks or do water aerobics to help keep your joints supple. When you receive your diagnosis, ask your doctor about inflammation-causing foods to avoid. You may have to adjust your diet slightly to relieve some of the pain.
It’s important to stay up to date with your vaccinations and take good care of your overall health. RA sufferers may have an increased risk for infections due to their weakened immune system. This means that it’s important to eat a nutritious healthy diet and stay relatively active to keep your immune system strong.
Good to know
If you are obese or overweight, you could be placing unnecessary stress on your joints – a precursor to RA. It’s worth speaking with your doctor about your risk for arthritis and starting a healthy routine to lose weight.
While RA can affect anyone, you may have an elevated risk if there’s a family history of rheumatoid arthritis.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. Always check with your doctor or medical practitioner about any health concerns, before embarking on any fitness or nutrition programme, and usage of any medication.