Rheumatoid arthritis disorder is one of the most common types of disorders. Rheumatoid arthritis affects millions of people and usually very painful arthritis condition. Rheumatoid arthritis mainly affects joints of wrists, ankles, knees, elbows, hips, shoulders and feet. Usually, this disease progresses in a symmetrical pattern in which 2-3 different joints are affected at a time. Therefore, understanding various aspects of rheumatoid arthritis disorder is of utmost importance.

In rheumatoid arthritis, pain in the joints results from various sources. It may be due to swelling or inflammation of the joints as well as surrounding tissues. Excess physical activities or strain on the joints also can lead to pain. The intensity of pain differs person to person. There is a limitation in the mobility of the joint.

Inflammation is one of the most significant rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Tenderness, redness and warmth are the hallmarks of inflammation. The stiffness is another remarkable symptom, which is frequently noticed. There are other general rheumatoid arthritis symptoms such as malaise (blah feeling), fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, myalgias (muscle aches) and weakness or loss of energy.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive disease that can easily affect other organs and systems in the body including skin, heart, lungs, digestive tract, kidneys, blood vessels, blood, eyes and nervous system. Since it is an autoimmune disease, it is caused by the activity of immune system, which mistakenly attacks the healthy tissues resulting in inflammation of the joints. Some dietary factors are among the important causes of rheumatoid arthritis. It is believed that certain hormonal factors are involved in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Some possible causes of rheumatoid arthritis are hormones, genetic factors, environmental factors and bacterial or viral infections.

A combination of treatment strategies is used to relieve swelling and pain in the joints, to maintain the motion and strength and to prevent further complications. Various options are available for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis disorder includes the medications, different therapies and surgical options.

Different types of medications are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis on primary level. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen, which reduce swelling and pain in joints, are effective for the treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Joint replacement surgery is one of the options for rheumatoid arthritis. The non-drug approaches include hydrotherapy, physical therapy, relaxation therapy, occupational therapy, heat and cold treatments.

Recognizing signs and symptoms, finding related causes, appropriate diagnosis and opting effective suitable treatment is the best approach towards rheumatoid arthritis disorder.