Rheumatoid arthritis is also known as RA. It is a chronic disease which damages the joints of the body. The damage due to Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by inflammation. It is a normal response of the body?s immune system which may be caused due to infections, wounds, and foreign objects. The inflammation in the joints may lead to pain, stiffness as well as swelling. The inflammation may also affect other parts of the body. If the inflammation is not slowed or stopped, it may damage the joints and other tissues.
Alcohol abuse is a major cause of Rheumatoid arthritis. However, it should not be confused with other forms of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Thus in this disease, the body?s immune system mistakenly attacks the tissues. However, in reality these tissues should be protected by the immune system. The immune system produces certain cells and chemicals,which start attacking the body tissues.
The attack on body tissues leads to abnormal growth and inflammation in the synovium, which is the membrane that lines the joints.
This is known as synovitis and is one of the main causes of inflammatory arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. This situation can damage the bone and cartilage of the joint as well as the surrounding tissues. Some of these tissues include ligaments, tendons, nerves and blood vessels.
Rheumatoid arthritis most often affects joints of the hands and feet, wrists, elbows, knees, and/or ankles. People who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis may face difficulty in carrying out normal activities like standing, walking, dressing, washing, using the toilet, preparing food, and carrying out household chores.
Rheumatoid arthritis affects other parts of the body as well. These include the skin, heart, kidneys, musculoskeletal structures, digestive tracts, liver, nervous system and eyes. People who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis are known to have shorter life expectancy as compared to the general population. However, it should be noted that this is not a fatal disease. There are many complications and treatment-related side effects which may lead to premature death.
Though there have been significant advances in treatment over the past decades, rheumatoid arthritis is still an incurable disease. There are 2 components of the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The first involves the reduction of inflammation and prevention of joint damage and disability. The second component is relieving symptoms like pain. In most of the cases, achieving the first goal may lead to the second. However, in some cases separate treatment for symptoms may be required.
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