What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease that causes joint destruction. The disease is more common in women. The average age at onset of the disease is between 20 and 40 years. There are juvenile rheumatoid arthritis starting in childhood or late-onset rheumatoid arthritis in children over 60 years of age.
Why and how does rheumatoid arthritis occur?
The exact cause of the disease is unknown. Some factors that may be caused are emphasized. Some of these factors are genetic, some viruses and some environmental factors. By the influence of these factors, our bodies are beginning to produce antibodies that damage their joints. These antibodies cause disease by damaging the joints and tissues around the joints.
What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?
The most important symptom is joint pain and joint swelling. RA most commonly involves wrist and hand finger joints. Apart from hand joints, it can hold the knee, ankle, elbow, hip, shoulder and neck spine. Except for pain and swelling in the joints, mild fever, fatigue, weight loss, and joint participation of more than 1 hour in the morning. Some patients have painless swelling around the joint. This condition called the rheumatoid nodule is an important symptom of the disease.
Are there signs other than joint pain?
Yeah. Apart from joints, soft tissue, tendon, nerve, eye, lung, kidney and occasionally heart involvement. Nerve stiffness is common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. There are even patients who have undergone nerve compression surgery without the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Tendon inflammations and tendon injuries are also common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Features can damage the tendons around the wrist and around the shoulder. Lesions can also be seen in the eye organs and the optic layer.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
In RA treatment, the aim is to prevent joint inflammation and prevent disability. Today, rheumatoid arthritis can be controlled by drug treatments. However, since these drugs can have side effects as much as the positive effects, the follow-up of a specialist doctor is very important. The drugs used in the treatment of Ra are evaluated in three main groups. The first is only drugs that reduce complaints. The second group is drugs that halt the progression of the disease. The third and newest group is biological agent treatments used in patients who do not respond to the second group of drugs.
How should nutrition be done in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis?
It has been suggested that, besides being unable to have a special diet, there may be positive effects of vitamin C-rich feeding in the habits.
Can a patient with rheumatoid arthritis become pregnant? Pregnancy and rheumatoid arthritis
Yes, the doctor who follows the rheumatoid arthritis can make the medication and conceive it in a planned way. The rheumatoid arthritis index in pregnancy is often reduced. In fact, the patient may not have any complaints. However, frequent exacerbations are seen after pregnancy. Patients with pregnant rheumatoid arthritis can not use drugs such as methotrexate, leflunomide, and biological agents because of the potential for harm to the baby.