DR. CORA LIM
MEDICAL INSIDER
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Part 3
In conclusion to our discussion of Rheumatoid Arthritis
(RA), we review its definition. Most books will tell us that
RA, is an “autoimmune and inflammatory disease, which
means that your immune system attacks healthy cells in
your body by mistake, causing inflammation (painful
swelling) in the affected parts of the body”.
We also ask: What is the main cause of RA? Researchers
wish us to think that RA is caused by: genetics, hormones
and environmental factors.
Another question we ask is: What are the initial signs of
RA? Researchers again say that the signs and symptoms
of rheumatoid arthritis may include the following: Tender,
warm, swollen joints; joint stiffness that is usually worse in
the mornings and after inactivity and fatigue, fever and
loss of appetite.
We proceed to another question: What triggers RA?
Books tell us that predictable flares have a known trigger,
like: overdoing tasks; overexertion, poor sleep, stress or
an infection like the flu can all set off RA symptoms.
Another question that is often asked is: Can RA be cured?
While most researchers believe that there is no cure for
rheumatoid arthritis, yet clinical studies indicate that
remission of symptoms is more likely when treatment
begins early with medications known as disease-modifying
antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
Can RA be prevented? How? These are two (2) questions
that are most often asked, too. Suggestions to prevent
and/or lower your risk of RA as presented in books and
researches include: quitting smoking, maintaining a
healthy weight, exercising, adding more omega-3 or fish
into your diet and cutting down on sugar-sweetened
drinks.
Is there an age when RA would start in a person? One can
get RA at any age. “But it’s most likely to show up between
ages 30 and 50. When it starts between ages 60 and 65,
it’s called elderly-onset RA or late-onset RA. Elderly-onset
RA is different from RA that starts in earlier years. Indeed,
RA can begin at any age, and increases with age. The
highest occurrence happens among adults in their sixties
two-to-three times higher in women than men”.