Thursday, September 5, 2013

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)?


Your knees and other joints ache. You are experiencing pain and movement difficulty. You feel like even your hands are swollen and painful. If you feel like this; you better check with your physician. You may have Rheumatoid Arthritis.

This ailment is an autoimmune disease. It affects your immune system. Specifically, it affects the way your immune system treats outside threats like viruses and bacteria. It is more than swollen tissues and joints. It can make your body accept bad cells; since it loses the ability to tell good cells from bad cells.

Though many people think that Rheumatoid Arthritis is an ailment for the elderly, many young adults are also afflicted. It is a chronic illness. This means that it can last from a few days to years on end. That is why proper care and medication is needed for patients to be able to lead normal lives.

Also, both patients and care givers must be vigilant. No one really "gets well" from this condition. Patients may experience long periods without the painful symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis. There is no all-encompassing treatment that will cure this permanently. Physicians today aim for the reduction of inflammation of the joints instead.

When patients are first diagnosed; they are asked about their diet and their lifestyle. These two are crucial factors to whether the patient's treatment will be successful or not. Patients who lead active life generally respond better to physical treatment. On the other hand, patients who have bad eating habits normally have a hard time controlling or changing their eating habits even if they know that there a food items that increase the pain of their symptoms.

There are three things to remember in the treatment and prevention of Rheumatoid Arthritis:

First, on the onset of symptoms; remember to see your physician immediately. Successful treatment is only possible when a doctor is consulted immediately. Nipping the problem at the bud, so to speak; is the best course of action when faced with the onset of this condition. When your physician outlines a plan of action for you, you should make sure to follow it to the letter.

Secondly, your diet plays a crucial part in making sure that you don't suffer under the symptoms. Believe it or not, your diet can and will affect the pain you feel. Certain food such as those high in protein or protein peptide like such as eggs, beans and soy affect the autoimmune system more than simple carbohydrates. This means that your physician may exclude these foods from your diet in order to lessen the symptoms you experience.

When your are prescribed a diet that aims to curb those symptoms; one should stick to it as close as possible. Maintaining a healthy diet will help you veer far away from pain and immobility.

Lastly, regular exercise and physical therapy is also essential to be able to have successful treatment of this condition. As a patient or a caregiver, you should be willing to undergo physical therapy even if it may cause you to be uncomfortable. Patients who have lead slovenly lifestyles in the past may have a hard time keeping up with the therapy prescribed to them by their doctors. But they must do these exercises in order to be fully functional and mobile.

The inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues may become a daunting and painful condition. But with the help of great doctors and care providers as well as a firm resolve to be better; patients will be able to enjoy normal lives.

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