Rheumatoid Arthritis – Symptoms, Causes and Complications

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease which is long-term, progressive, and disabling. This disease causes inflammation, swelling, and pain in joints and other body organs. 

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) normally affects the hands and feet but it can occur in any joint also. It normally involves the same joints on both sides of the body. Common symptoms are stiff joints, especially when we getting up in the mornings or after sitting down for some time. 

Some persons often deal with fatigue and having a general feeling of being unwell. The Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network concludes that RA affects around 1 percent of the world’s population and over 1.3 million people in America. 

It is an autoimmune disease. It is also known as a systemic disease that affects the whole body of a person. It occurs when a person’s immune system mistakes the body’s healthy tissues. As the immune system responds, swelling occurs in the target tissue or organ of the body. In the case of this arthritis, this can be the joints, lungs, eyes, and heart.

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis includes some symptoms. Some of these are:

• Pain, swelling, and stiffness
• Joint deformity
• Weight loss
• Weakness
• Loss of function and mobility
• Feeling unwell
• Fever
• Unsteadiness
• Symmetrical joint involvement

The above symptoms usually affect similar joints on both sides of the body. Symptoms are temporary and can tend to come and go. During a remission, these symptoms can disappear but during a flare, they can be severe.

Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Most people do not know what causes the immune system to malfunction. Some people think that there are some genetic factors that make it more likely. One of the theories is that bacteria or a virus encourage Rheumatoid arthritis in persons who have this genetic feature. 

In Rheumatoid arthritis, the system’s antibodies attack the synovium, which is known as the smooth lining of a joint. When this happens, pain and swelling result. Swelling causes the synovium to get thicken. If this issue left untreated, it can invade and destroy cartilage. The tendons and ligaments that make the joint together can also become weaken and stretch. Due to this, the joint loses its shape and structure. The damage can be grievous.

Risk factors involved in Rheumatoid Arthritis

It has noted that people with a higher chance of developing Rheumatoid arthritis may include those who:

• are female
• have obesity
• are 60 years old or above
• have never given birth
• have specific genetic traits.
• smoke tobacco

Complications in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Persons with Rheumatoid arthritis have a higher chance of some other conditions which include heart disease and obesity. Persons who have obesity also have a higher chance of diabetes and high BP. Rheumatoid arthritis can make it more difficult to do daily activities. 

Rheumatoid arthritis can occur anytime or can be unpredictable. A person does not know when this problem will happen. This issue can lead to depression, anxiety, and stress employment difficulties. There is also a greater risk of developing some other conditions like Swelling, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Tendon Rupture, Cervical Myelopathy, Vasculitis, Infection, etc.

• Carpal tunnel syndrome: It is a type of nerve damage that rises from compression and burn of a nerve in the wrist. The main symptoms include numbness, aching, and tingling in the fingers, hand, and thumb.
• Swelling: This can affect the heart, lungs, eyes, blood vessels, and some other parts of the body.
• Tendon rupture: Swelling in the tendons can lead to rupture. It especially occurs on the back side of the fingers.
• Cervical myelopathy: Dislocation of the joints can cause high pressure to the spinal cord. This can further lead to reduced mobility and pain on movement. As the effect of Rheumatoid Arthritis increases, the risk of cervical myelopathy increases.
• Vasculitis: Swelling of the blood vessels can make them weaken, thicken, scar and narrow. This can also disturb the blood flow to tissues and can also affect the organ function.
• Susceptibility to infections: There is a higher chance of developing colds, cough problems, flu, pneumonia, and some other diseases if the person is fully depending on immunosuppressant medications to manage RA. People having RA should ensure their medications up-to-date.

Amandeep Hospital — Best hospital for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

At Amandeep Hospital, we have an expert and experienced team of Orthopaedics Surgeons to serve you with the best treatment for all the joint or knee-related problems. The Hospital also provides robotic knee replacement surgery at its best and the expert medical treatment in India. 

Consult our surgeons today and get all other suggestions regarding how to get rid of joint pain or how to get a knee or join to be replaced. We also make sure that the best treatment will be provided through advanced joint replacement surgery or robotic knee surgery. We are always available for providing you with the best services and will not give any chance of complaint to you.