Arthritis means inflammation or swelling of one or more joints. It describes more than 100 conditions that affect the joints, tissues around the joint, and other connective tissues. Specific symptoms vary depending on the type of arthritis but usually include joint pain and stiffness.
If you have been recently diagnosed with arthritis, or have lived with it for some time, you may be unsure as to whether your arthritis may spread from one part of your body to another. Arthritis can develop and become worse, spreading from affected areas. However, arthritis is not contagious.
Symptoms:
The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis often develop gradually over several weeks, but some cases can progress quickly over a number of days. The symptoms vary from person to person. Certain digestive problems can also be an etiology. They may come and go, or change over time. You may experience flares when your condition deteriorates and your symptoms become worse.
The joint pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis is usually a throbbing and aching pain. It is often worse in the mornings and after a period of inactivity. Joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis can feel stiff. For example, if your hands are affected, you may not be able to fully bend your fingers or form a fist. Like joint pain, the stiffness is often worse in the morning or after a period of inactivity.
Morning stiffness that is a symptom of another type of arthritis, called osteoarthritis, usually wears off within 30 minutes of getting up, but morning stiffness in rheumatoid arthritis often lasts longer than this. The lining of joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis become inflamed, which can cause the joints to swell, and become hot and tender to touch.In some people, firm swellings called rheumatoid nodules can also develop under the skin around affected joints.
Your immune system normally makes antibodies that attack bacteria and viruses, helping to fight infection. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system mistakenly sends antibodies to the lining of your joints, where they attack the tissue surrounding the joint.
This causes the thin layer of cells (synovium) covering your joints to become sore and inflamed, releasing chemicals that damage nearby bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments. If rheumatoid arthritis is not treated, these chemicals gradually cause the joint to lose its shape and alignment. Eventually, it can destroy the joint completely.
Various theories of why the immune system attacks the joints have been suggested, such as an infection being a trigger, but none of these theories has been proven.
Some Advices:
Regular exercise and a healthy diet are recommended for everyone, not just people with rheumatoid arthritis. They can help reduce your risk of many conditions, including heart disease and many forms of cancer. Exercising regularly can help relieve stress, help keep your joints mobile, and strengthen the muscles supporting your joints. Exercise can also help you lose weight if you’re overweight, which can put extra strain on your joints.
But it’s important to find a balance between rest and exercise. Rest will make inflamed joints feel more comfortable, but without movement your joints will stiffen and your muscles will become weaker.
Find the best activities and the right balance for you. It’s usually best to increase the amount of exercise you do gradually. If a particular activity causes your joints to become warm and swollen, or it causes severe pain, then stop and rest. If it does not cause problems, then it is usually fine to continue. If a particular activity always causes a flare-up, it’s best to avoid it and find an alternative. High-impact activities, such as running or contact sports like rugby and football, are more likely to cause problems.
Try low-impact activities that put less strain on your joints, such as swimming, cycling, walking and aqua aerobics Symptoms: , Certails digest