| Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common | | | | parts of the body as well. Inflammation can occur in |
| variations of arthritis, and it usually affects those | | | | the lungs, giving rise to a condition called pleurisy. |
| between the ages of 25 and 55, most of them | | | | Inflammation of glands in the mouth and in the eyes |
| women. It's an autoimmune and systemic disease | | | | can cause mouth dryness and eye irritation, also |
| that gives rise to many rheumatoid arthritis | | | | called Sjogren's syndrome. Inflammation can calso |
| symptoms and signs. The most overriding of all these | | | | occur (though quite rarely) in the blood vessels and |
| symptoms is the unremitting pain and discomfort that | | | | the pericardium, or the membrane enclosing the |
| sufferers experience on a regular basis, and which | | | | heart. Another complication of rheumatoid arthritis is |
| most often restrict their ability to move about freely | | | | anemia, where the bone marrow is unable to produce |
| and adversely affect their quality of life.Rheumatoid | | | | the adequate amount of red blood cells needed to |
| arthritis symptoms usually manifest themselves in the | | | | keep it healthy.The disease does not only affect the |
| small joints of the feet and fingers, although they can | | | | body, many of the symptoms manifest themselves |
| appear in joints in other locations as well, such as the | | | | in psychological ways as well. For instance, patients |
| hips and knees. In autoimmune diseases like | | | | complain of a feeling of listlessness or an overall |
| rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system misfires and | | | | feeling of not being well. This condition is also known |
| turns on healthy cells and tissues -- in this case, the | | | | by the term malaise. Getting tired easily, a feeling of |
| synovium or the lining of the joints. Pain and | | | | fatigue, loss of appetite, and weight loss -- these are |
| inflammation are the most prominent results of this | | | | all rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and contribute |
| "friendly fire" by the immune system.The majority of | | | | greatly to the patient's perception of a reduction in |
| patients awake to stiff and painful joints in the | | | | her quality of life.It is important to remember that no |
| morning, which can last for an hour or more. A long | | | | two persons will have exactly the same symptoms. |
| period of inactivity or rest can also trigger this pain | | | | Just as each person's bodily make-up and |
| and stiffness. The disease usually affects more than | | | | metabolisms are different, so too will rheumatoid |
| just one joint and appears bilaterally or symmetrically. | | | | arthritis symptoms will become manifest in each |
| That is, a person can experience symptoms in the | | | | individual. Some men and women experience sudden |
| fingers of both her left and right hands or the toes | | | | flare-ups of the disease, with the symptoms |
| of both her left and right feet. It becomes harder to | | | | disappearing after several days or weeks while |
| move the affected joint in its full range of motion, | | | | others will experience continuous pain and swelling for |
| and even the least amount of pressure on it can | | | | several years. Aside from the constant pain, |
| cause a lot of pain. Also, the skin covering the joint | | | | long-term rheumatoid arthritis that is left untreated |
| can become red and inflamed, and at times the | | | | will lead to gross deformities and permanent joint |
| patient can feel either a tingling sensation or | | | | damage.Knowing about the various rheumatoid |
| numbness in her skin. A low-grade fever is common | | | | arthritis symptoms will help each person be aware of |
| among sufferers of this disease.Small nodules or | | | | what to look out for, especially if she is already |
| 'tophi' appear under the skin of about 25 percent of | | | | predisposed to the disease. It will save the trouble |
| people with the disease. These lumps and bumps are | | | | and expense that could result from misdiagnosis and |
| about the size of a pea and are usually painless. They | | | | guesswork. A person who presents with one or |
| are the results of inflammation and scar tissue, and | | | | more of these symptoms should seek immediate |
| can appear in areas such as the arms, ankles, and | | | | medical attention so that the progress of the disease |
| elbows. Even though the tophi are not painful, they | | | | can be slowed down or even halted at the earliest |
| should not be dismissed because they could indicate | | | | possible provides you with information on rheumatoid |
| other, more serious conditions than rheumatoid | | | | arthritis symptoms, arthritis help, osteoarthritis, |
| arthritis.Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease, | | | | psoriatic arthritis, causes of gout, and gout |
| meaning it affects not just the joints but many other | | | | treatments. |