Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, progressive, autoimmune inflammatory disease that has as its main targets, the joints. It affects more than 2 million Americans.

In recent years, tremendous strides in understanding how RA develops has led to the development of targeted therapies.

The aggressive use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS) such as methotrexate, in combination with biologic therapies has resulted in sustained effectiveness, improved tolerability, and better response levels. The result has been a significant reduction in joint damage and work-related disability.

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Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, progressive, systemic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease for which there is no current cure. However, there are important and effective advances which have made it possible to put this disease into remission.

The most important advances in treatment in the last 25 years have been the use of methotrexate as a disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) and the use of biologic therapies to get this disease into remission.

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Rheumatoid arthritis is a form of chronic arthritis that occurs generally in the joints including the wrists, hands or knees on both sides of the body. It is the occurrence in both sides of the body that helps distinguish rheumatoid from other types of arthritis, in which the joint inflammation is random.

Symptoms

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Today over one million Americans are affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA); this figure includes 200,00 children who suffer from juvenile RA.  There is a wealth of rheumatoid arthritis information available to educate individuals about this disease and about RA treatments.  

Rheumatoid arthritis facts have determined that individuals who are between twenty to fifty years of age suffer from this disease; however it is known to affect older adults as well. RA affects women three times more than men.  Specifically, RA affects the joints in the cervical spine (neck area).  The joint in this area that RA most frequently impacts is the odontoid process in the upper cervical spine. The odontoid travels from the second cervical vertebrate upwards in a tooth-like structure.

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There are different kinds of arthritis. All, however, directly affect the joints causing swelling and breakdown of cartilage around the joint area.

This causes the joints to rub against each other which results to the pain. It is a common misconception that only the elderly have this disease. There are kinds of arthritis that targets the youth.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form where there is a degeneration of the joints as a complication of diabetes, sports injuries or even pregnancy.

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Arthritis is one of the most common diseases people across the globe suffer from. Although this disease is common in old age, you can even see a lot of youngsters and middle aged people suffering from this problem, these days.

Once this problem arises, you cannot do anything about it except eating medicines for pain relief or applying topical creams or oil. However, some of the medical experts these days even claim to have found out various effective methods to treat this disease.

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Arthritis is one of the most common diseases people across the globe suffer from. Although this disease is common in old age, you can even see a lot of youngsters and middle aged people suffering from this problem, these days.

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Rheumatoid arthritis (or RA) has been at the hands of research for many years. With no known cause and no cure thus far, this particular disease can overpower the body’s defenses. What arthritis does is cause inflammation of the joints and sometimes other organs. It is characterized by redness, warmth, swelling and pain. Although symptoms develop slowly, it is easy to diagnose the illness at an early stage.

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I’m confused with health education for RA patients with health promotion for Ra patients. Can anyone gives me examples on health promotion for Ra patients?
(i) Is comforting the patient from excruciating pain consider as health promotion?

(ii) giving seminar about the disease itself to the community that talks about the disease,how it progress, what are the signs and symptoms is also consider as health promotion?

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the joints.  Autoimmune diseases are illnesses where the body attacks its own immune system.  The autoimmune system is made up of cells that destroy invaders such as infections.  Patients with autoimmune diseases have antibodies in their blood that attack their body tissues that are usually the sight of inflammation; this can occur in organs as well, not just the joints.  RA can affect the eyes, skin, heart, and lungs.  Arthritis means joint inflammation whereas rheumatoid arthritis causes redness, swelling, stiffness, and pain in the joint.  Inflammation in the joints causes swelling, pain, and tenderness to the touch and during movement.  It is possible to have a warm feeling at the sight of the inflammation and restricted movement.  RA can also cause inflammation in tendons, ligaments, and muscles around the joints.  

Rheumatoid arthritis is common in the United States affecting more than one million people and it affects all races equally, though women are three times more likely than men to suffer from this disease.  It can affect someone at any age, but typically occurs after the age of 40 and before 60.  Nobody knows the cause of RA, but scientists suggest it is genetically inherited.  Some environmental factors increase your chances of getting RA such as smoking tobacco.  

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