Early Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
by Sandra Kim Leong
Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, it is likely that you experience moderate to severe pain. Because of your pain and discomfort, over time, you can find that you are incapable of performing daily tasks such as preparing food, walking, combing their hair, dressing, and other chores.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to produce cells that attack its own tissues. This results in inflammation that damages the joints and surrounding muscle. Early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can show up in some mild form of pain in your joints. Thus, if you start to feel discomfort and have difficulty in using the muscles around your joints, you should start to investigate.
Although just about anyone can develop rheumatoid arthritis, some individuals may be more susceptible than others. Early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are important signals that you should not miss. Rheumatoid arthritis is commonly known as a chronic progressive disease. This means that the disease generally worsens as it progresses. If you are aware of any early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, you can prevent it from degenerating and the condition becoming worse.
Here are some national figures to help you gauge if you belong to a higher risk category. Approximately 1.5 million of all rheumatoid arthritis patients in the United States are women. This is out of the 2.1 million people in the United States with rheumatoid arthritis. As such, statistics show that women are two to three times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than the male population.
Also, it appears that older people are more prone to developing rheumatoid arthritis. Most diagnoses occur between the ages of 35 to 50. As you age, therefore, become aware of any early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis that you may experience.
There is, however, a variation of the disease that affects young people. It is known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Thus, rheumatoid arthritis can affect people of all ages, ranging from teenagers to the elderly.
According to some research studies, it appears that Native American populations get afflicted more so than other population groups. It is estimated that about five to six per cent of certain Native American populations suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. The lowest rates of rheumatoid arthritis appear to occur in individuals of Caribbean backgrounds, mostly those of African descent.
In terms of hereditary factors, studies indicate that roughly two to three per cent of those diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis report that someone in their family also suffer from the disease. If you have a family member that has rheumatoid arthritis, be sure to ask him or her about the early symptoms experienced. This will help heightened your awareness based on your own body and condition.
Some people may experience early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis more dramatically than others. For some, the disease may regress or flare up throughout their life. Most people will experience periods where the symptoms of the disease are practically non-existent. Of course, these periods will be tempered by times where the disease flares up due to environmental triggers.
There is currently no cure for rheumatoid arthritis. Thus, if you belong to a high risk category, you should keep a look out of any early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive autoimmune disease that can only worsen over time. Early intervention can help prevent deformity and damage to your joints or the surrounding areas. The earlier you take action, the better it is for you.
