Essay On Rheumatoid Arthritis

Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system attacks the body. One such disease is rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system attacks the joints causing the membranes that line the joints, the synovium, to swell and to be painful. The synovium creates a substance that lubricates the joints which helps them to function smoothly. If the condition worsens it can cause severe damage to the cartilage and even the bones around the joints. With the loss of cartilage between the bones leads to further complications including decreased spacing between the bones, severe joint pain, and loss of mobility. In severe cases it can cause the bones to become deformed. Rheumatoid arthritis is symmetrical, meaning that when it affects one hand, knee, etc. it will also affect the other. The swelling caused by rheumatoid arthritis can also affect other systems in the body such as the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is still unknown at this time. Some major factors that could play a role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis include genetics, environment, obesity, or a foreign bacteria/virus infection. Studies of genetics have shown that certain types of genetic
markers are more susceptible, but the mere fact that a person has the genetic markers is not an indication that they will get rheumatoid arthritis. Environmental factors that may increase the chances of getting the disease include cigarette smoke, pollution, insecticides, and exposure to certain minerals and silica. Since women are three times more likely to have rheumatoid arthritis, another cause may be related to hormones and or hormonal imbalance. Some scientists believe it is caused by a combination of the different factors. Rheumatoid arthritis is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to many other diseases. There is no one test that can determine the presence of rheumatoid arthritis. Physical exams can identify swelling, redness, and pain in the joints. Blood tests can identify C-reactive proteins, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies. Imaging tests can help track the progression and severity of rheumatoid arthritis. Although there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, advances in treatment have been able to stop or slow the symptoms.
Treatments include medications, therapy, and in some cases surgery. The types of medications used are disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, and biological agents. Therapy includes physical or occupational. Only in the most severe cases is surgery required. The type of surgery can be a minor synovectomy or a complete joint replacement. Alternative medicines that may also help with treatment include certain fish and plant oils and Tai Chi. With early detection and treatment rheumatoid arthritis can be managed with little negative effects on joints and
bones.