Arthritis may lead to long-term implications if left untreated

Rheumatoid Arthritis RA is a chronic inflammatory disease wherein your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues of the body causing inflammation In RA joints of the hands wrists feet and knees are mainly affected Typically the disease causes your joints to swell and shows an array of symptoms including joint pain and stiffness RA affects the lining of the joint called synovium causing inflammation of the synovium and destruction of the joint cartilage leading to chronic pain and deformity If not treated early the effects of RA can go beyond your joints and may spread to other parts of the body such as the lungs heart and eyesWhat complications can RA cause in different organsWhen RA is not treated properly it can lead to a host of serious complications and can develop in several organs including lungs eyes skin and heartLungs Rheumatoid Arthritis can cause interstitial lung disease that presents as chronic cough and breathlessness during exertion Airway involvement can also lead to reactive airway disease and bronchiectasisEyes When you get diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis you can feel severe dryness or inflammation in your eyes If you often have dry eyes it is recommended to get them checked by a doctor and get them properly treatedSkin Skin rashes and ulcers on arms and legs can be seen among people suffering from rheumatoid arthritisHeart Longstanding untreated rheumatoid arthritis can put patients at a 2fold risk of developing cardiovascular disease and strokesWhat are the signs and symptoms of Rheumatoid ArthritisThe signs and symptoms of RA include pain and swelling in multiple joints severe early morning stiffness in joints joint tenderness weight loss fever fatigue weakness and tiredness Since RA is a progressive disease these symptoms typically get worse However with timely treatment the progression of RA can be managed effectivelyWhat causes RAWhile the exact cause of RA is unknown certain factors like age sex genetics and illicit habits like smoking pregnancy and obesity can increase the risk of developing the diseaseEven though RA can begin at any age its incidence increases with age The onset of RA is highest among senior citizens of the age group 60 years and above People with a genetic background of RA smokers and people who are obese are also at a higher risk of contracting RASeveral studies have also indicated that women are more prone to develop RA than men and carry a 23 times higher risk These studies have also highlighted that women who have never given birth or have late pregnancies are also at a greater risk of developing RAHow is RA diagnosed and what is the treatment methodIf you have the signs and symptoms of RA you should consult a doctor Rheumatologist who will diagnose the disease by reviewing your symptoms conducting a physical examination and doing Xrays and lab tests It is recommended that you get it diagnosed within 6 weeks of the onset of the symptoms to stop or slow the progression of the disease Early diagnosis and treatments can suppress or control the inflammation that can help in reducing the damaging effects of RAThe treatment of the disease involves the use of medications called diseasemodifying antirheumatic drugs DMARDs that slow the disease and prevent joint deformity Biologic DMARDs are an effective secondline treatment Additionally people can also adopt several selfmanagement strategies that can reduce pain prevent disability and allow them to pursue the activities that they want to engage inHow can you manage RA and improve your quality of lifeWhile RA can significantly affect your daily living fortunately there are multiple strategies through which you can improve your quality of lifePhysical Activity Getting moderate physical activity for 150 minutes per week like walking swimming or cycling for 30 minutes a day for five days a week can not only improve your quality of life but can also reduce your risk of developing other chronic diseases like heart disease diabetes and depressionParticipate in selfmanagement education class You can gain confidence by participating in such classes as they will provide you with information on how you can control the symptoms and live well with the diseaseQuit Smoking and Maintain a Healthy Weight Cigarette smoking can make the disease worse reduce responsiveness to medications and can further increase the risk of cardiovascular disease Hence quitting smoking engaging in regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy body weight can have a positive impact on you and can help you manage the condition betterDr Chethana D is a Consultant Rheumatology at Aster CMI Hospital in BangaloreAlso ReadExpert shares 10minute workout that is perfect for the holidaysThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete 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