To date, one of the mostcommon diseases affecting joints - rheumatoid arthritis. According to statistics, it affects every hundredth inhabitant of the Earth. And I noticed that the fairer sex get sick five times more often than men. Age also matters: those under 30 years old, usually the disease is not touched.
Content
The causes of rheumatoid arthritis
Intrigue of rheumatoid arthritis is
that from it is difficult to insure. Doctors have not been able
until the end to find out why one is not beautiful day in humans
begin inflamed joints. It is known only that the impetus
to the beginning of the disease fails in the immune system. Factors-provokers
may be hypothermia, stress, joint injuries and infections. So
familiar to all of us ARI, tonsillitis and flu is fraught with complications in the form of
rheumatoid arthritis.
What's happening
develop the disease
gradually and imperceptibly. A person can feel great,
lead normal life, and in the meantime his body has
appeared substances aggressively tuned to their own tissues
(Rheumatoid factor). As soon as these substances accumulate enough
many, they begin their destructive activity - attack the joints
and cause an inflammatory reaction. Affected joints gradually
deformed and can not work normally.
How to recognize
suspected
Rheumatoid arthritis is not difficult. Its main feature - the joints are affected
symmetrically ill left, then he must be ill and right. First
turn from arthritis affects the joints of the hands. If you wake up
in the morning, you're in for an hour feeling stiffness in the fingers and wrists,
while his hands swell and joints hurt - an urgent need to address
professional help. Pull with the treatment no longer, disease
It will not disappear and will only improve. The changes will affect the foot,
and then reach to the more large joints, the knee and elbow;
may suffer even cervical spine.
The disease is characterized by a mild fever, insomnia and lack of appetite.
How dangerous?
In
patients with rheumatoid arthritis sharply decreases the mobility of joints.
Patients lose the ability to perform usual activities, their torment
pain and awareness of his own frailty. If the disease in time
stop, in five years a person may be in a wheelchair
chair. And that is not all. Damaging the joints, rheumatoid factor is very
soon it will be taken and the internal organs. Complications of the disease can
become a rheumatic heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, blood vessels
and intestines.
The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis
In no case can not be expected that all by itselfpass. At the first sign of illness immediately to make an appointment to see a doctor, a rheumatologist. Only he can distinguish rheumatoid arthritis from similar diseases and make the correct diagnosis.
After hearing
all your complaints and examining joints, doctor must prescribe
biochemical and immunological blood tests. as well as a very important
analysis, which will help to identify the presence of rheumatoid factor in the blood.
To determine the extent of joint damage, theirenlighten X-rays, make arthroscopy or magnetic resonance imaging of the joints. And if need be, to make a puncture and will take the study articular fluid.
at
the defeat of the internal organs may need urgent advice
other specialists: cardiologists, gastroenterologists, pulmonologists
etc.
Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
Unfortunately, magic tablets
relieving patients of rheumatoid arthritis quickly and permanently,
scientists have not yet invented. However, to treat the disease is possible and necessary.
Modern
funds from rheumatoid arthritis only slows down development
disease, relieve the unpleasant symptoms and prevent the emergence of
complications. They are of two types: anti-inflammatory
and antirheumatic. The first (ibuprofen, diclofenac) is removed
inflammation and reduce pain. The second (gold salts) - are struggling with the
disease in acute. It must be borne in mind that all these
preparations have to drink a very long time, perhaps even - all
rest of his life. In addition, they often cause side reactions,
so take them desirable only under medical supervision.
A good therapeutic effect is given physiotherapy for arthritis,
except that heat affected joint. Special
It helps low-frequency low-frequency magnetic therapy and laser therapy.
Also, patients are shown massage therapy and physiotherapy.
If
medicines the patient is not getting better, it is assigned a surgical
surgery to remove the diseased tissue in the joint, it slows
progression of the disease. Today, most of these operations is performed arthroscopically.
