10 Important Things About Rheumatoid Arthritis

1.) Rheumatoid Arthritis is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis. There is 2.1 millions people in the U.S. that have it. It develops mostly between the ages of 30 and 50 years of age. But can develop at any age.

2.) Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease. It is a chronic disease and it is triggered by the immune system. Autoimmune diseases happen when the body tissues are attacked mistakenly by the body's own immune system. The immune system has a complex organization of cells and antibodies that normally seek and destroy invaders like bacteria. This can cause inflammation in joints and it can also target important organs in the body like the lungs, kidneys, and heart.

3.) Blood tests and physical exams are used in combination to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. There is no 2 cases of rheumatoid arthritis that are the same. And the course its going to run can be very unpredictable. Some people who have it can have very severe joint pain and their x-rays can show that there is no damage done to the joints. Some patients have a lot of joint damage and don't experience very much pain at all. So in order to find the best treatment for one's case many tests and exams are done to determine the best treatment.

4.) There are 2 types of Arthritis, seropositive and seronegative. The word "sero" comes from serum. This means seronegative happens when blood tests can show up negative when tested for rheumatoid arthritis. Signs and symptoms are still there it just doesn't show up in blood tests. This does not mean, however, that it is a less severe case of rheumatoid arthritis. Only about 20% of rheumatoid arthritis cases are seronegative.

5.) Recognizing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis is important. Getting the earliest diagnosis can prevent severe damage to joints, bones, muscles, and organs later on. Early symptoms include warmth, swelling, and pain that occur in small joints like fingers, wrists, and feet. Stiffness in the morning that can last up to an hour or more and fatigue that normally goes along with loss of appetite and fever. Joints that are affected are normally symmetrical, and lumps can be present in the areas. Deformities in joints and damage to tendons, ligaments, and cartilage can be signs too.

6.) Rheumatoid arthritis is more common to occur in women than in men. Genetics and hormones are said to be the major role in the cause rheumatoid arthritis. This does not mean that men hardly get arthritis. This means that certain kinds of arthritis are more common in women than men. Arthritis such as gout and ankylosing spondylitis are more common in men than women.

7.) Joint damage can occur quickly in rheumatoid arthritis. Damage can occur within 2 years of being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. This is why it is so important to get diagnosed early is so important. Your doctor will be able to determine whether an aggressive approach is needed or not.

8.) The risk of disability for rheumatoid arthritis is high. An early diagnosis can mean saving your body from severe damage like joint and bone deformities and even crippling.

Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. according to the center of disease control and prevention.

9.) A product called Rhumatol that Alternative Health Supplements offers can support your joints and cartilage. It can improve your energy, give relief from joint discomfort, supports cartilage for comfort and mobility, and it is all natural with no side effects. This product also supports immune system and autoimmune health. It will improve your over all health and sense of well being.

10.) There is still hope, help, and new medical research being done to treat and cure rheumatoid arthritis. If you get diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis don't lose hope, there is a lot that can be done to treat it and keep your life as normal and healthy as possible. It can get emotionally overwhelming, financially stressful and disabilities can be frustrating but keeping your head up will make you stronger.