How You Can Beat Rheumatoid Arthritis Part 1: What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

News Feed: Less Pain At The Pump Motorists filling their gas tanks at a South Wheeling station Thursday said they were happy to be experiencing less pain at the pump - and they hope it stays that way. ... Police, residents in fresh council standoff OUDTSHOORN residents angry at the suspension of municipal manager Noel Pietersen occupied the municipal offices again yesterday. ...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory form of arthritis. It is characterized by inflammation of the synovial (joint) lining of multiple joints, usually presenting in a symmetric manner (meaning one side is like the other).

Early on, small joints such as the hands, wrists, ankles, and feet are involved. As the disease progresses, larger joints also are affected. Virtually, any joint can be involved.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an acquired autoimmune disease with a genetic predisposition. About 70% of patients have the genetic markers, HLA-DR4 or HLA-DR1.

Rheumatoid factors, which are antibodies to IgG, occur in 60-80% of adult RA patients. The level of rheumatoid factor in the blood seems to correlate with prognosis. it is now clear that rheumatoid factors exist in multiple forms and that the type of rheumatoid factor a patient presents with may indicate the type of course they will experience with their disease. The amount of rheumatoid factor also seems to correlate with disease severity.

The three abnormal factors that seem to be associated with the development of RA are an environmental trigger (the exact trigger is still unknown), genetic predisposition, and a hyper normal immune response.

RA affects about 1-2% of the population (2 million people) with a female to male ratio of about 3:1. Mortality in patients with RA is increased compared with the general population. Life expectancy is reduced about 7 years in men and 4 years in women.

The economic impact is staggering! Direct costs are $14 billion per year in the United States. After 5 years of disease, 27% of people are disabled. After 10 years between 40 to 60% of people are disabled.

Dr. Wei (pronounced “way”) is a board-certified rheumatologist and Clinical Director of the nationally respected Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and has served as a consultant to the Arthritis Branch of the National Institutes of Health. He is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and the American College of Physicians. For more information on arthritis and related conditions, go to: Rheumatory Arthritis

http://www.arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com/rheumatory-arthritis.html