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Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a form of arthritis that is an autoimmune disease (the body attacked by the body’s own immune system) resulting in inflammation and damage to the joints including bones in the joints that are attacked. Often experienced or occur in old age, but can also occur in young adults, adolescents and children. Joints that are attacked characterized by inflammation so that the joints swell and cause pain, in a long time can occur muscle wasting and bone depletion.  Which are attacked in general are joints in the fingers, wrists, shoulders, knee and foot joints. Pain and stiffness are the most typical symptoms, usually worsens in the morning (wake up) or sitting too long.

This disease damages the joints, for a long time, fingers (if this part is attacked) will be bent and cause the sufferer to be disrupted by daily activities and decrease quality of life.

At the beginning, the small joints are attack and gradually it will attack the larger joints. In most cases symptoms occur in the same joints on both sides of the body.

Symptoms

  • Symptoms arise symmetrically in the same joint on both sides of the body.
  • Stiff joints take place in the morning (usually waking up stiff joints)
  • Swollen, red and feels warm.
  • Pain in the joints

Symptoms can disappear and are accompanied by fatigue, fever, loss of appetite.

Risk factors

  • Women are at higher risk then men
  • Can occur at any age, however, it often occurs in the age of 40 – 60 years.
  • If your parents, siblings, uncles, aunts or grandparents suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, then you are at high risk for experiencing it as well.
  • Smoking increase the risk especially if there is a genetic predisposition to rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Obesity, especially in women is at higher risk for rheumatoid arthritis.

If you feel or experience symptoms like this, then you should and immediately consult your doctor or the nearest health center to make sure.

Do not treat yourself because the medicine and treatment are different from other rheumatic diseases. The faster it is treated; the joint damage can be prevented earlier.

How to overcome it

  • Take the medicine given by the doctor and obey the doctor’s advice, check with your doctor regularly.
  • Achieve ideal body weight if you are overweight.
  • Eat healthy foods, multiply fruits and vegetables, avoid food that are high in fat and sugar.
  • Regular exercise according to the state of the body
  • Stop smoking and alcohol.

This paper cannot replace the role or advice of health workers. All the decisions you make must be discussed with your healthcare provider, regarding your specific medical needs.

Writter: Alex Pattinasarany

Reference:

  1. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Hellosehat, 2020, 2020, https://hellosehat.com/kesehatan/penyakit/rematik-rheumatoid-arthritis-ra/
  2. Rheumatoid Arthritis, Mayoclinic, 2020, 2020, https://www.mayoclinic.org/disease-conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353648?p=1