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Rheumatoid arthritis affects more women than men and it can afflict anyone irrespective of race or age. However, this chronic debilitating disease is seen more frequently in people between the age of 30 years and 60 years. |
The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not known but what doctors can tell us is that the disease manifests itself when the immune system of our body attacks the connective tissues in the joints. In addition, the disease also affects other parts of the body. What doctors can tell definitively is that rheumatoid arthritis damages cartilages, ligaments, tendons and bones, leading to deformity, constant pain and swelling. It has been seen that certain genetic and environmental factors play an important role in a person getting rheumatoid arthritis.
Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis:Usually when people have rheumatoid arthritis, the symptoms worsen at certain times, what is known as flare ups, and at other times there are no symptoms. However, as the disease progresses, the symptoms get worse. The first symptom that most people experience is having inflamed joints. This inflammation starts gradually and then tends to affect different joints. The inflammation causes a lot of pain and the joints are invariable stiff. Joints like fingers, wrists, toes, elbows and ankles are first affected.
A very common symptom that most people with rheumatoid arthritis suffer from is freezing in place. This is when the joints, especially those of the fingers, freeze in awkward positions. When this happens, joints cannot be bent or opened completely. Most people experience the rheumatoid arthritis symptom of freezing in place when they wake up in the morning or if they have been inactive for a long time and then try to do some activity. This is not just painful but also very cumbersome.
The best way to handle the rheumatoid arthritis symptom of freezing in place is to do regular exercise and physiotherapy under the guidance of a specialized physiotherapist.
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