Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis can occur in many joints in the body including shoulders, knees, ankles and the hips. As the disease carries on, there is an increase in the damage to cartilage and bone. People with Rheumatoid Arthritis have a higher chance of developing anaemia due to a decrease in the red blood cell production. Rheumatoid Arthritis increases the risk of inflammation of the lining of the lungs which overtime can lead to a lung disease called pulmonary fibrosis, which affects the breathing.
(http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/rheumatoid-arthritis/articles/rhemuatoid-arthritis-affects-body.php)
Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune condition. This means it is caused by the immune system attacking the body tissue. If you have Rheumatoid Arthritis, your immune system sends antibodies to the lining of your joints by accident, and they start to attack the tissue around the joint. If the condition isn’t treated, these can eventually destroy the joint completely. Rheumatoid Arthritis is more common in women than men, which is believed might be because of the effects of the hormone oestrogen. Some evidence also suggests that smokers have an increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. …show more content…
Some are used to hinder structural damage, and others are used to ease the symptoms and to slow down the disease. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to help ease the pain and inflammation of the Rheumatoid Arthritis. They are available by prescription or over-the-counter. Corticosteroid medications may also be used to get severe, potentially damaging inflammation under control. Surgery for Rheumatoid Arthritis may never be needed, but it could be recommended for people with permanent damage from the disease. Surgery to replace joints can relieve pain caused by Rheumatoid Arthritis. The surgery involves replacing damaged parts of a joint with plastic and metal