What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and how can they be recognized in time?

Rheumatoid arthritis is considered one of the most severe joint diseases, which occurs with a lot of complications. This disease affects people of any age, but most often it is detected in those who are over thirty.

It is remarkable that among women, rheumatoid arthritis occurs almost five times more often than in men. In general, according to statistical data, this disease affects 1-2% of the total population of the planet.

Etiology

Physicians still have not been able to disclose the exact cause that triggers the onset of rheumatoid arthritis, but the most likely option is a combination of infectious and genetic factors. Some experts argue that rheumatoid arthritis occurs under the influence of a bacterial or viral infection, which causes violations in the immune system in persons with hereditary predisposition.

In addition to this type of disease, there is also juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which occurs in children up to the age of sixteen. This disease is characterized by inflammation and a feeling of stiffness in the joints for more than 4-6 weeks.

It is also remarkable that the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in children include redness, swelling and pain in the affected area, in which the joint loses mobility. Exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis includes increased stiffness, a strong swelling of the affected joints, the presence of pain even in a state of rest.

With the remission of this disease, the intensity of symptoms decreases, and the pain partially passes. Timely treatment of rheumatoid arthritis gives pretty good results in most patients. As for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with folk remedies, it is recommended to use it in addition to traditional medicament therapy.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in adults

The characteristic signs of rheumatoid arthritis in its "classical" course are very difficult to confuse with the clinical symptoms of other joint diseases. As a rule, in most cases, the onset of the disease is characterized by inflammation and swelling of the metacarpophalangeal joints of the middle and index fingers.

Simply speaking, we are talking about those joints that are located at the base of the fingers, that is, in the region of the bones protruding when the fist is folded. This inflammation is often combined with swelling of the wrist joints.

In some cases, the first sign of the disease is the swelling of the wrist joints. It is noteworthy that the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis almost always manifest themselves symmetrically. That is, if the joints on the right arm are affected, similar joints on the left arm are also affected by inflammation.

Unlike rheumatism, in this disease inflammation in the joints is quite persistent and its signs can persist for several months to several years. Pain in joints with rheumatoid arthritis is usually worse in the second half of the night and / or in the morning.

Approximately before noon, the pain syndrome is very intense, it can be compared to a toothache. However, in the afternoon, the pain wanes, and in the evening it often becomes quite insignificant. In this case, the temperature of rheumatoid arthritis is a frequent companion of the remaining symptoms. As a rule, its increase is insignificant - up to 37,2-38 ° С.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Typical clinical symptoms of this disease include prolonged swelling, pain and stiffness of the affected joints, which can become more intense in the morning and after a short sleep. In addition, the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in children include periodic fever, loss of appetite, a sharp decrease in weight, anemia, a temporary rash on the arms and legs.

Pain can significantly limit the functionality of the affected joints, but most children, especially younger children, do not complain of severe pain. Juvenile arthritis is characterized by the defeat of knee joints and small joints of the hands and feet. Quite often among the characteristic signs of the disease is morning limp because of knee joint damage.

Prevention of disease

Conditionally preventive measures can be divided into primary measures that prevent the onset of illness and secondary, preventing exacerbations of an already existing disease. It is important to understand that exercises with rheumatoid arthritis, appointed as secondary prevention, have a positive effect only in combination with timely and adequate medication.