Health Line reports that around 1.3 million individuals within the United States have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. They also report that, on average, out of every 100,000 individuals, 41 suffers from this condition. Women are also considered to be at a higher risk of developing the condition than men and usually starts between the ages of 30 and 60.
Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis is commonly associated, but these are two different types of arthritis. While osteoarthritis is quite easy to diagnose, Rheumatoid Arthritis is considered a condition that is relatively difficult to diagnose during the early development stages.
Several of the symptoms that are commonly associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis is also symptoms that are present in other diseases. Thus an accurate diagnosis can be challenging for healthcare professionals. When patients experience symptoms associated with this disease, several tests need to be performed to conduct a thorough exam and to diagnose the condition properly.
- The process usually starts with a physical exam. The healthcare professional will examine different parts of the patient’s body where joints are located. They will also check joints for heat, redness, and swelling.
- Once the physical exam has been conducted, the doctor completes several blood tests on the patient to check the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate and the C-reactive protein rate within the patient’s blood.
- Finally, a doctor might prefer to refer the patient for an imaging test should the blood tests provide evidence of Rheumatoid Arthritis. An X-ray will help determine whether the patient has the condition, as well as how far the condition has progressed.
- To determine how severe the condition is in the patient, an ultrasound test, and an MRI might also be taken.
Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis
While Rheumatoid Arthritis is an incurable disease at this stage, several treatment options are available to slow down the development of the disease. Research also shows that treatment is more effective when a patient starts to treat the disease at an early stage. Since each patient’s condition is unique, a doctor will first determine the severity of the condition and then discuss the available treatment options with the patient.
Options might include:
- Treatment via disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, also known as DMARDs
- Treatment via over-the-counter drugs can provide temporary relief of pain and inflammation
- Treatment via prescription drugs can help slow down the rate at which the disease progress, as well as assist with inflammation and pain.
- Physical or occupational therapy
- Complementary and alternative medicine can also be suggested
- Alternatively, surgery can also be used if other treatment options are ineffective
Doctors will usually start with treatments that do not involve surgery. There are various kinds of medications available to treat and slow down the rate at which Rheumatoid Arthritis affects the body. The specific type of medicine prescribed to a patient will depend on how far the disease has developed and the severity of the disease in their joints.
- Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen can be used to reduce inflammation and assist in relieving pain.
- Prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be obtained from a pharmacy if over-the-counter options do not provide effective relief.
- Corticosteroid medications provide assistance with the rate at which joints are damaged and also assists with reducing inflammation in joints.
- Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs can help to avoid permanent damage to joints and slows down the progression of the disease.
- Biologic agents can assist with reducing inflammation that causes further damage to joints by targeting specific parts of the patient’s immune system.
Many doctors also recommend patients to take complementary treatment along with the prescribed treatments to benefit from several natural supplements. Several studied have been conducted on the effect of fish oil, tai chi and plant oils on Rheumatoid Arthritis, and it is believed to provide effective relieve of pain, inflammation and help to slow down the progression rate of the disease.
Also watch video on: Foods That Fight Arthritis Pain I Wish I Knew Earlier
Foods That Fight Arthritis Pain I Wish I Knew Earlier:
Conclusion
Millions of people suffer from the severe symptoms associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis. While it is difficult to diagnose in early stages, patients are advised to reach out to their doctor if they notice any symptoms commonly associated with the disease. This will allow early diagnoses, which will increase the effectiveness of the treatment options available to treat the condition.
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