DESCRIPTION:
In rheumatoid arthritis, the body produces antibodies that attack the synovial membrane enclosing each joint and, in some cases, other body tissues. This autoimmune disorder affects about 2.1 million Americans. It is three times more common in women than in men and generally strikes between the ages of 20 and 50.
How does rheumatoid arthritis develop?
The disorder, characterized by the immune system waging an attack on the synovial membrane, usually appears first in the small joints of the hands and feet. Joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis become stiff and swollen as a result of inflammation of the synovial membrane. Gradually, the inflammation damages both the ends of the bones and the cartilage that covers them. In most cases, rheumatoid arthritis affects several joints. Tissues in other parts of the body, such as the eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels, also may be affected by the inflammation.
A chronic disease, rheumatoid arthritis usually recurs in episodes lasting for several weeks or months with relatively symptom-free periods in between. Although the disease itself is not inherited, certain genes that create susceptibility may be.
What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?
The signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis come and go over time. They include pain and swelling in the smaller joints of the hands and feet; generalized aching or stiffness of the joints and muscles, especially after sleeping or periods of rest; loss of motion of the affected joints; loss of strength in muscles attached to the affected joints; fatigue; low grade fever and deformity of the joints over time.
Conventional medical treatments may help relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis but they do not address the root of the problem. Generally, by undergoing comprehensive natural medicine testing, the reasons the body is producing antibodies against itself can be found. Some of these reasons include sensitivities or allergies to foods, inhalants and chemicals and various infections.
Discover why we believe that natural medicine treatments are the best way to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
