PT Health Life – Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune arthritis disease, characterized by chronic inflammation of the synovial membrane in many joints and extra-articular lesions. If not treated early, the disease can cause joint deformity and severe disability.
1. Causes of rheumatoid arthritis
The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is currently unclear. Until now, scientists still believe that this is an autoimmune disease with the participation of many factors such as infection or genetics.
Antigens are pathogens that enter the body, triggering a chain of immune reactions, in which T lymphocytes play a key role. Favorable factors: bacterial infection (Epstein-Barr virus, Parvo virus… or Mycoplasma, intestinal bacteria…); physical condition (body weakness, injury…); environmental factors (prolonged cold and humidity); age, gender (over 40; female); family nature…
Who is susceptible to rheumatoid arthritis?
The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, but the following people are more susceptible than others:
Elderly
Rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age, but most commonly begins between the ages of 40 and 60, because this is the period when bones and joints are susceptible to degeneration.
People with obesity
The incidence of rheumatoid arthritis in obese people is 5 times higher than normal due to coronary artery disease, blood vessels are often narrowed, leading to difficulty in blood circulation.
People working in humid environments
People who often work in cold or damp environments and are exposed to a lot of water are also more susceptible to the disease.
Women are more susceptible to rheumatoid arthritis
Women are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than men. The reason for arthritis in women is obesity, osteoporosis… which increases the progression of osteoarthritis. Weight gain is common during menopause, so this may partly explain the increase in arthritis in women. But even after adjusting for body mass index (BMI), women are still more likely to lose cartilage than men.
Family members with rheumatoid arthritis
If someone in your family has rheumatoid arthritis, it can also increase the risk of the remaining members getting the disease.
2. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
When suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, patients have symptoms of pain and swelling in the joints that are symmetrical and diffuse, especially in small and large joints. Joint pain and swelling are often continuous all day, increasing at night and early morning. Rest does not relieve the pain.
Morning stiffness usually lasts more than 1 hour. In addition, patients show signs of fatigue and weakness due to prolonged arthritis, affecting their quality of life. Patients may have no fever or mild fever during the progression of the disease.
Symptoms in other organs may appear as low nodules (granules or lumps) raised on the skin, firm, painless, immobile, attached to the underlying bone base, 5 to 20 mm in diameter, in elbow joint, sometimes very painful.
3. What should people with rheumatoid arthritis pay attention to?
Controlling rheumatoid arthritis early helps prevent the disease from progressing, reduces the risk of complications and helps patients move and move more easily. Therefore, patients need to follow the doctor’s instructions.
At home, you need to change your lifestyle and practice light sports every day: Patients should choose sports that are suitable for their condition, avoiding sports that require a lot of physical exertion such as basketball, tennis, baseball. … Instead, patients should choose subjects such as yoga, walking, cycling to help joints move smoothly, reducing the possibility of muscle atrophy.
Regarding diet, people with rheumatoid arthritis need to supplement enough nutrients for their joints. Patients should eat a lot of foods rich in vitamin D, calcium, and omega-3 to help reduce inflammation and support stronger bones and joints.
Do not use tobacco, alcohol, beer, or stimulants: Stimulants affect the immune system, worsen inflammatory reactions, and cause lasting joint pain.
