Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that causes interminable irritation and inflammation of the joints and the tissues surrounding it. Rheumatoid arthritis is also known to cause tenderness and swelling of the other organs of the body. Since this form of arthritis is autoimmune, it is defined by the characteristic that the progression of the disease occurs because the tissues in the body are mistakenly attacked by its own immune system. Rheumatic arthritis symptoms include a lack of appetite, fatigue, mild fever, muscle and joint aches coupled with stiffness and they appear and reappear sporadically. The stiffness of muscles and joints is usually most prominent in the mornings and after prolonged inactive periods.
Till date, no known cure has been identified for rheumatoid arthritis. The best way to deal with this disease is to keep it in control and not allow it to flare up. A variety of rheumatoid arthritis medications are available to combat the symptoms of this autoimmune form of arthritis. NSAIDs are medications that can reduce tissue inflammation and swelling and have been in use for sometime. These NSAIDs may not have the same effect in each individual case and hence, doctors may try several drugs before finally prescribing one. The Corticosteroid medications are more effective than the NSAIDs in reducing inflammation and may be prescribes as an oral medication or may be administered as an injection. However, corticosteroids are known to have serious side effects, particularly when given in high doses for extended periods of time. These two forms of medications are together known as ‘first line’ drugs.
Another form of rheumatoid arthritis medications are the ‘second line’ drugs which are also known as Disease-modifying Anti-rheumatic Drugs or DMARDs. These drugs are slow acting and can be prescribed for long periods of time. DMARDs are known to promote remission, thereby delaying the progression of joint damage and malformations. Some of these second line drugs are Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), Azulfidine, Methotrexate, Gold salts, D-penicillamine (Depen, Cuprimine) etc. Some of the new second-line drugs useful for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis are leflunomide, etanercept, infliximab, anakinra and adalimumab.
The areas of the body that may be affected by arthritis can be treated individually. For example, a visit to an ophthalmologist may help in coping with eye related infections. Surgery may be suggested to restore the damaged joints. Though there is no special diet that can be recommended for the patients, eating healthy and balanced meals is always a wise idea. Moderate levels of exercise can help reduce the pain and stiffness of the body. As a final point, minimizing emotional stress can help perk up the general health of the patient suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Support and activity groups give the patients an opportunity to discuss their problems with others and learn more about the illness.
