Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the primary forms of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis can be defined as an autoimmune disease that leads to the chronic inflammation in the joints. An autoimmune disease refers to the illness that is caused when the tissues of the body are attacked by the body’s own immune system. The immune system of a body comprises of a structure of cells and antibodies which fight with the infections and the invaders. Rheumatoid arthritis results in the tissue inflammation around the area of joints mainly but can also affect the other organs of the body.
These patients develop antibodies in the bloodstream that attack the tissues of their own body which leads to inflammation. Since it is not only limited to the joints and can also hit the other organs, rheumatoid arthritis comes under the category of systemic illness and is also called the rheumatoid disease. To gather more information about Rheumatoid arthritis read on.
This chronic illness called rheumatoid arthritis has a tendency to last several years. It is a progressive illness which can destroy the joints and can also disrupt its functional ability. By “joints” it is referred to the joining of two bones which allows movement. Actually Arthritis refers to the inflammation of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause pain in the joints besides stiffening and reddening in the area. The infection can also be seen in the tissues around the affected joint.
These include ligaments, tendons and muscles. Patients who are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, in them it can also lead to the cartilage destruction as well as the ligaments and the bones resulting in the deformity of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the commonest forms of rheumatic diseases. It has been surveyed that the disease is three times more common in women that men. Even though there is a high tendency of the disease to occur at any age, it is more common in people who within the age limit of forty and sixty. It also has a fair tendency to attack succeeding generations as it has been found in several families.The causes of rheumatoid arthritis are still under research. Even though there is enough theoretical evidence that it can be caused by the microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, or fungi but there is no proof.
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Some believe it to be a hereditary factor while some believe it can be triggered by the environment factors which arise the situation when the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. It can cause inflammation of the lungs and the eyes. The disease is said to be in an active phase till the inflammation persists and said to be inactive when it subsides which is called remission. Remissions can last till weeks, months, or even years. With remissions the symptoms go and return as the disease comes back. The return is called as flare. The symptoms vary from individual to individual. Some of the symptoms include loss of appetite, fatigue, mild fever, ache in the muscles and joints.
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