Rheumatoid Arthritis
Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the body's tissue mistakenly attacks its own immune system. Patients with these types of diseases have antibodies in their blood that target their own body's tissues. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation the joints as well as other organs in the body. Itoften develops gradually over a period of years, however, in rare cases it can appear Rheumatoid arthritis affects more than two million people each year in the UnitedStates alone. It afflicts people of all races equally, but is three times more common in women than in men. It occurs most often in people twenty to fifty years old, however, young children and the elderly also have the potential to develop the disease. The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. The job of the immune system is to protect the body from infection. In rheumatoid arthritis there is a trigger to the immune system to attack the joints and organs. Immune cells, called lymphocytes, are activated and chemical messengers are expressed in inflamed areas. It was once suspected that infectious agents
Herbs and supplements, such as Chondroitin, MSM, Fish Oil, Willow Bark, and Collagen can all be taken in conjunction with regular medications. such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi caused the disease but it was never proven and the theory isn't studied much anymore. Support groups help in minimizing emotional stress by allowing patients to discuss their disease with other rheumatoid patients and learn more about their illness. Methotrexate, however, does suppress the immune system and canaffect the bone marrow and the liver. Treatment for the disease involves a combination of physical andoccupational therapy, drug therapy, rest, education, exercise, and in severe cases surgicalintervention. The C-reactive protein test and the sedimentation rate test are also performed during the diagnosis and monitoring of rheumatoid arthritis. It is essential that the patient and the patient's family be educated about the course of the disease. During this time the symptoms disappear and the patient feels well. Chronic inflammation can cause permanent tissue damage and damage to cartilage and bone which can lead tojoint deformity and sometimes loss of function of that area. NSAIDS and corticosteroids havea short onset action, while DMARDS can take weeks or months to demonstrate effects. Abnormal blood antibodies can be found in patients withrheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect the body's organs as well as other areas besidethe joints. Corticosteroids have both anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatoryproperties. Some scientists now believe that the tendency to develop rheumatoid arthritis may be genetically inherited.
Common topics in this essay:
Arthritis Autoimmune,
NSAIDS Corticosteroids,
Aspirin Naprosyn,
DMARDS NSAIDS,
rheumatoid arthritis,
Tai Chi,
Bark Collagen,
Prevacid Prilosec,
immune system,
nsaids corticosteroids,
rheumatoid patients,
College Rheumatology,
sedimentation rate,
flare ups,
effects nsaids,
blood cells,
Disease Control,
Hopkins University,
patients rheumatoid arthritis,
antibody called,
joint mobility,
rheumatoid arthritis autoimmune,
red blood cells,
blood antibody called,
joint destruction deformity,
|
Acceptance Essays
