Arthritis is a term that refers to inflammation in a joint. Joint inflammation is often characterized by pain within the joint, as well as swelling and redness.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a particular form of arthritis that is chronic in nature. It typically occurs in joints on both sides of your body, including your knees, wrists and hands. This symmetry helps to distinguish rheumatoid arthritis from other forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis.
Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Stiffness, especially in the early morning hours, or after sitting for longer periods of time, fatigue, along with joint pain and swelling are symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
People are affected differently by Rheumatoid arthritis. In some cases rheumatoid arthritis occurs rapidly, but usually it progresses over the course of years. People may also have rheumatoid arthritis and then it will pass into remission.
Rheumatoid Arthritis, Who Gets It?
1% of the U.S. population is affected by rheumatoid arthritis. One important point to make is that it tends to effect women more than men. Women are two to three times more likely to be affected. Usually middle aged individuals suffer from R.A. but young children and elderly individuals can also develop rheumatoid arthritis. - The cause is unknown at this time.
What Causes Rheumatoid Arthritis?
The cause is unknown at this time. Something seems to trigger an individual's immune system to attack the joints and sometimes other organs in the body. Some state that a virus or bacteria may alter the immune system to act in this manner.
Ways in which Rheumatoid Arthritis Affects the Body
When the immune system is triggered, immune cells move from the blood into joints and the synovium (joint lining tissue). Once there the immune cells produce inflammatory substances. As a result of an increased number of cells and inflammatory agents within the joint, irritation occurs. The cartilage can be worn down as a result of R.A. as well. Swelling may also occur when the immune system attacks a joint.
When rheumatoid arthritis attacks your knee joint and the irritation sets in, the use of a well designed knee brace can help to prevent movements that will trigger excessive inflammation of the knee joint. People have noted several benefits of knee braces when they suffer from R.A., indicating that their knee pain can be relieved and the support that their knee gets helps them to move through their daily activities with more confidence.
For more free information like this visit us online at http://www.drbraceco.com . Dr Brace Co. is an education based site with a wide variety of affordable knee supports available. Visit us online now to learn more.
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1 comments:
Good post on arthritis pain relief information.
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