In the United States alone, more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children suffer from over 100 different types of arthritis and related conditions (“Understanding Arthritis”, n.d.), and it is possible to have multiple forms of arthritis at the same time (“Arthritis”, 2016a). Scientists are currently studying factors such as how genetics, lifestyle, and the environment are related to arthritis, since the cause for most forms of arthritis is unknown (2016a). Arthritis is classified as an autoimmune disorder(“Rheumatoid Arthritis”, 2016b), and is one of the most debilitating chronic health problems and is the leading cause of disability in America, as it affects people of all ages, sexes, and races (“Understanding Arthritis”, n.d.). One of
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National Library of Medicine (2016b), the inflammation of severe cases of RA can effect the bone, cartilage, and other tissues in the joints, which can cause serious health problems. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect the joints in the fingers and knuckles the most, and this type of arthritis usually affects both sides of the body (2014). According to OMICS International, rheumatoid arthritis generally starts developing between the ages of 30 and 60. In this paper, the symptoms and effects of rheumatoid arthritis will be discussed, along with the causes and development of the disease, followed by treatments, possible cures and prevention precautions that have been discovered to help the victims of rheumatoid …show more content…
The disease is relatively unpredictable, as it may stay the same for years, or it may progress and get worse over time (“Understanding Arthritis”, n.d.). On one end of the spectrum, people are able to continue their life as if they are not affected by rheumatoid arthritis, they just experience moderate discomfort while performing specific activities. However, on the other end of the spectrum, severe arthritis can result in the inability to do seemingly simple tasks such as walking or climbing stairs (“Understanding Arthritis”, n.d.). The permanent damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis is often only able to be seen on x-rays, but sometimes it causes visible joint damage, such as knobby finger joints and cooked fingers (“Understanding Arthritis”, n.d.). According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis is tricky to diagnose because there are over 100 types of arthritis and related conditions, the disease can start in many ways, and it can be extremely difficult to recognize because of the wide range of symptoms. Arthritis might cause the classic symptoms of joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, or it may cause health problems that seem unrelated, such as fatigue or a different rashes (“Understanding Arthritis”, n.d.). Also, according to the
National Library of Medicine (2016b), the inflammation of severe cases of RA can effect the bone, cartilage, and other tissues in the joints, which can cause serious health problems. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect the joints in the fingers and knuckles the most, and this type of arthritis usually affects both sides of the body (2014). According to OMICS International, rheumatoid arthritis generally starts developing between the ages of 30 and 60. In this paper, the symptoms and effects of rheumatoid arthritis will be discussed, along with the causes and development of the disease, followed by treatments, possible cures and prevention precautions that have been discovered to help the victims of rheumatoid …show more content…
The disease is relatively unpredictable, as it may stay the same for years, or it may progress and get worse over time (“Understanding Arthritis”, n.d.). On one end of the spectrum, people are able to continue their life as if they are not affected by rheumatoid arthritis, they just experience moderate discomfort while performing specific activities. However, on the other end of the spectrum, severe arthritis can result in the inability to do seemingly simple tasks such as walking or climbing stairs (“Understanding Arthritis”, n.d.). The permanent damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis is often only able to be seen on x-rays, but sometimes it causes visible joint damage, such as knobby finger joints and cooked fingers (“Understanding Arthritis”, n.d.). According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis is tricky to diagnose because there are over 100 types of arthritis and related conditions, the disease can start in many ways, and it can be extremely difficult to recognize because of the wide range of symptoms. Arthritis might cause the classic symptoms of joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, or it may cause health problems that seem unrelated, such as fatigue or a different rashes (“Understanding Arthritis”, n.d.). Also, according to the