Rheumatoid arthritis, often called RA, is a chronic disease that causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints. RA is an autoimmune disorder in which your own body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, causing inflammation and damage to your joints. About 1% of the US population suffers from RA.
RA differs from osteoarthritis (OA), the most common type of arthritis, which people most often experience later in life. Osteoarthritis is a condition in which the cartilage breaks down, causing pain, swelling, and loss of motion in the joint. RA is a systemic disease, often affecting extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and muscles.
What causes rheumatoid arthritis?
The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, but has long been suspected to be infectious. It could be due to food allergies or external organisms. Some scientists believe that the tendency to develop rheumatoid arthritis may be genetically inherited. It is suspected that certain infections or factors in the environment might trigger the immune system to attack the body's own tissues, resulting in inflammation in various organs of the body such as the lungs or eyes.
What are some natural remedies for rheumatoid arthritis?
Click here for an alternative medicine for the treatment of arthritis.
Proper, regular exercise is important in maintaining joint mobility, and in strengthening the muscles around the joints. Swimming is particularly helpful because it allows exercise with minimal stress on the joints. Physical and occupational therapists are trained to provide specific exercise instructions and can offer splinting supports. For example, wrist and finger splints can be helpful in reducing inflammation and maintaining joint alignment. Devices, such as canes, toilet seat raisers, and jar grippers can assist daily living. Heat and cold applications are modalities that can ease symptoms before and after exercise.
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