Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that breaks down joints and affects the quality of life. Arthritis attacks fingers and hands. The affected joints become stiff, sore and raised. The sooner the disease is detected, the better is the result of the treatment. The treatment consists of medicine and rehabilitation.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease where the joints are slowly destroyed. It is especially middle-aged women who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a hereditary disease, but other factors also occur. Smoking increases the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis usually starts with a common feeling of sickness, fatigue, decreased appetite, weight loss and mild joint pain. After a few months, the joint pain increases. The joints get stiff in the morning and swell. Especially the fingers and wrists are attacked. Typically, both hands are attacked, where the finger joints become swollen, sore and stiff. Other joints - knees and toes - may be attacked.
The doctor makes the diagnosis by means of his examination, blood tests and possibly X-ray examinations.
There is no treatment that can cure rheumatoid arthritis, but the treatment can relieve the pain and slow down the disease. There have been new and quite effective treatments in recent years. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is a specialist task and is carried out by special arthritis doctors.