Rheumatoid arthritis is a joint disorder that involves inflammation and possible weakening of the lining of different body joints. Technically, arthritis means inflammation of one or more joints. For some people, rheumatoid arthritis can affect more than just the joints; even blood, lungs or heart can be affected. Inflammation of joints brings in a lot of pain, stiffness, and even swelling.

The affected joints may lose their shape that leads to loss of normal mobility. Rheumatoid arthritis can last a long time and the person is able to do little or no activity. Since this is a chronic illness, you can see no symptoms for long time.

Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Even though it is supposed to be caused by certain viruses, bacteria, and fungi, it has not been proved yet. Research has linked it to genetics as well. It is also reported that certain factors in the environment might trigger the immune system to attack body's own tissues. Medical scholars have also pointed out that some environmental factors, for example smoking tobacco can develop rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis keep on varying with time, depending on the extent of tissue inflammation. The disease is active when body tissues are inflamed. And when tissue inflammation vanishes, the disease is inactive. Remissions can last for weeks or months. The patient does not see symptoms of the disease, and may feel well. The symptoms return when the disease becomes active.

Patient may experience fatigue, lack of appetite, low fever, and pain in muscle joints during flares. Normally, stiffness is realized in morning hours after periods of inactivity. Also joints often become red, swollen, and painful.

Routine tasks such as opening a jar can become difficult during flares. Chronic inflammation can cause damage to body tissues, and bones. This leads to weakness of bones as well as the muscles, resulting in joint deformity, and even loss of function. Sometimes, though rarely, rheumatoid arthritis can even affect the joint that is responsible for tightening our vocal cords, causing a hoarse voice.

The inflammation can affect organs and areas of the body other than the joints. Inflammation of glands of eyes and mouth can cause dryness of these. Rheumatoid inflammation of lung lining causes chest pain while breathing or coughing.
Long standing rheumatoid disease may lead to a rare, serious complication – blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis). It impairs blood supply to tissues leading to tissue death. This is initially visible as tiny black areas around the nail beds or as leg ulcers.

How is Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosed?

As the first step, you doctor reviews the history of symptoms, examines the joints for inflammation and deformity, the skin for rheumatoid nodules, and other parts of the body for inflammation. Certain blood and x-ray tests are recommended.

In rheumatoid arthritis, the small joints of both the sides of body are affected, foe example both hands, wrists and knees. When only one or two joints are inflamed, the diagnosis becomes more difficult. The detection of rheumatoid nodules, most often around the elbows and fingers, can suggest the diagnosis.

In the early stage of disease, joint x-rays may be normal or just show swelling of soft tissues. As the situation worsens, x-rays can show bony erosions to confirm rheumatoid arthritis in the joints.

Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

The purpose of treatment in rheumatoid arthritis is to reduce joint inflammation and pain, to maximize joint function, and to prevent joint destruction and deformity. For effective treatment, the patient should take proper medications, rest, a few exercises, and some precautionary measures. Different treatments are available for different symptoms and considering the age, gender and physical activity level of patient.

There are two levels of medications for rheumatoid arthritis. The fast-acting ‘first-line drugs’ are used to reduce pain and inflammation. The slow-acting second-line drugs promote disease remission and prevent progressive joint destruction, but they are not anti-inflammatory agents.

You can see improved function and reduced disability when treated with second-line drugs. You may require more aggressive second-line drugs, in addition to anti-inflammatory agents, if there is no improvement. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary.

You can also use herbs for strengthening the body and treating the rheumatoid arthritis. Arthcare oil is an anti-arthritic herbal formula that not only gives you assured relief, but also strengthens your bone tissues. It is a powerful antioxidant and increases the energy level of body. It penetrates the body tissue faster than many ointments because of its strong anti-inflammatory action. It removes stiffness of limbs. Use 2-3 drops of this oil for a good message, and apply it for 2-3 times a day.

Boswellia is another natural and safe herb for optimum joint health that inhibits the chemicals that trigger joint inflammation. It has been extensively used as an ointment for anti-inflammatory activities.

Since most of the herbal medicines are safe to use, you can take it irrespective of your age, and gender. However, consult a doctor in special cases for instance – pregnancy and diabetes.