![]() ![]() People with rheumatoid arthritis have an increased risk of inflammation and scarring of the lung tissues, which can lead to progressive shortness of breath. Rheumatoid arthritis can increase your risk of hardened and blocked arteries, as well as inflammation of the sac that encloses your heart. If rheumatoid arthritis affects your wrists, the inflammation can compress the nerve that serves most of your hand and fingers. The proportion of fat to lean mass is often higher in people who have rheumatoid arthritis, even in those who have a normal body mass index (BMI). Protect yourself with vaccinations to prevent diseases such as influenza, pneumonia, shingles and COVID-19. Rheumatoid arthritis itself and many of the medications used to combat it can impair the immune system, leading to increased infections. People who have rheumatoid arthritis are much more likely to develop Sjogren's syndrome, a disorder that decreases the amount of moisture in the eyes and mouth. However, these nodules can form anywhere in the body, including the heart and lungs. These firm bumps of tissue most commonly form around pressure points, such as the elbows. Rheumatoid arthritis itself, along with some medications used for treating rheumatoid arthritis, can increase your risk of osteoporosis - a condition that weakens your bones and makes them more prone to fracture. Rheumatoid arthritis increases your risk of developing: ![]() People who are overweight appear to be at a somewhat higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Smoking also appears to be associated with greater disease severity. Cigarette smoking increases your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, particularly if you have a genetic predisposition for developing the disease. If a member of your family has rheumatoid arthritis, you may have an increased risk of the disease. Rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age, but it most commonly begins in middle age. Women are more likely than men to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Risk factorsįactors that may increase your risk of rheumatoid arthritis include: While your genes don't actually cause rheumatoid arthritis, they can make you more likely to react to environmental factors - such as infection with certain viruses and bacteria - that may trigger the disease. It can also cause medical problems with your heart, lungs, nerves, eyes and skin.ĭoctors don't know what starts this process, although a genetic component appears likely. In rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system attacks healthy tissue in your joints. Normally, your immune system helps protect your body from infection and disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Make an appointment with your doctor if you have persistent discomfort and swelling in your joints. Over time, rheumatoid arthritis can cause joints to deform and shift out of place. Periods of increased disease activity, called flares, alternate with periods of relative remission - when the swelling and pain fade or disappear. Rheumatoid arthritis signs and symptoms may vary in severity and may even come and go. In most cases, symptoms occur in the same joints on both sides of your body.Ībout 40% of people who have rheumatoid arthritis also experience signs and symptoms that don't involve the joints. Joint stiffness that is usually worse in the mornings and after inactivityĮarly rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect your smaller joints first - particularly the joints that attach your fingers to your hands and your toes to your feet.Īs the disease progresses, symptoms often spread to the wrists, knees, ankles, elbows, hips and shoulders.Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include: ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |