| Rheumatoid Arthritis can commence at any age | | | | in children (Still's disease). Studies have suggested |
| but generally begins between the ages of 20 and | | | | that a high body mass index, particularly in |
| 45. This article examines some of its symptoms | | | | women, may increase the risk of contracting the |
| and causes. | | | | disease. Also, obesity places a greater strain on |
| The symptoms and signs: Joint stiffness, | | | | joints and may contribute to the breakdown of |
| particularly in the hands and feet, in the mornings | | | | joint tissue in rheumatoid arthritis. Overweight |
| when getting up from bed. A telling sign can be | | | | people are also at greater risk from other forms |
| that the stiffness is experienced in either both | | | | of arthritis. |
| hands or both feet - not just one. Stiffness that | | | | Self-care: This can be managed by adopting a |
| lasts for over an hour, or pain and swelling that | | | | regime that includes the following - |
| persists for more than a month or so may also | | | | - Balancing exercise sessions with periods of rest |
| be indicative of rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | Eating healthy foods Caring for your emotional |
| Early symptoms may also include fever, | | | | health during times of stress Protecting your |
| excessive tiredness or nodules under the skin - | | | | joints during everyday tasks Applying local |
| these feel like pea-size lumps. Other possible | | | | treatments for joint pain Adopting healthy habits |
| symptoms are anemia, fluid collecting on the | | | | in generalAll these factors can reduce the need |
| ankles or behind the knee and loss of appetite. In | | | | for medication. |
| children, a pink rash may follow the characteristic | | | | Exercise: Consult your physical therapist or doctor |
| swollen joints and there may be shaking chills. | | | | to help you formulate an exercise program that |
| Why the condition is painful: Cartilage does not | | | | uses the full motion range of your joints and |
| cause pain (it has no nerves to transmit pain | | | | strengthens muscle. Plan for plenty of rest |
| signals), so it is thought that irritation of other | | | | between exercises but keep up a daily program |
| tissues in and around the joint affected is the | | | | even if you don't feel like it - your mood should |
| cause of the joint pain typical of rheumatoid | | | | improve, joint pain lessen and you should sleep |
| arthritis. However,the relationship between joint | | | | better. |
| pain and cartilage destruction is still not fully | | | | Although some discomfort is to be expected this |
| understood. | | | | should only last for a short time after exercise - |
| The irritation in the joint may be caused by | | | | any new joint pain or other sharp pains need to |
| 'chemical messengers' such as prostaglandin E2 | | | | be referred to your doctor for advice on how to |
| that have been found to be associated with the | | | | proceed. |
| disease process. For this reason, administration of | | | | Although rheumatoid arthritis is not a condition to |
| non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) | | | | take lightly, it can be controlled to some degree. |
| helps as it inhibits production of prostaglandin. | | | | Early diagnosis helps reduce loss of mobility and |
| Joint pain that is similar to that caused by | | | | joint pain caused by the disease in advanced |
| rheumatoid arthritis can be caused by a number | | | | form, so the best advice this article can give is to |
| of other conditions. Among these are chronic | | | | see your doctor immediately if you suspect you |
| fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and even bunions. | | | | have the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, |
| Only a doctor can identify the cause accurately, | | | | especially if you experience stiffness and joint |
| as similar symptoms can result from other | | | | pain. |
| autoimmune-related conditions from other kinds | | | | All advice in this article is given in good faith but |
| of arthritis to serious conditions such as cancer. | | | | does not pretend to replace the diagnosis or |
| Other factors: The disease is more common in | | | | professional advice of a qualified medical doctor. |
| older people, though it can occur at any age, even | | | | |