Tackle that arthritis

According to research, Rheumatoid Arthritis strikes women more than men, in a staggering ratio of 2.5 to 1! This affects women in all age groups. Aneesha Rai finds out its symptoms, precautions, and treatments

What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid is an autoimmune system disease that can affect the entire body, usually leading to inflammation in the lining of the joints and other internal organs. “It causes inflammation of the tissue around the joints, as well as in other organs in the body, leading to deterioration, pain, and stiff movement,” says Dr Bharathi R, an orthopedist at Bharathi Hospitals, Bangalore.

The signs and symptoms
The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis come and go, depending on the degree of tissue inflammation. When body tissues are inflamed, the disease is active. “Muscle and joint stiffness are usually most notable in the morning and after periods of inactivity. Even in the winter or the rains, the pain can get quite unbearable, “says Suhasini who has been suffering from arthritis for ten years.

You might also experience flares in which joints frequently become red, swollen, painful, and tender. Since rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease, its inflammation can affect organs and areas of the body other than the joints. This includes the lungs, throat, heart, and spleen.

How is it diagnosed?
1. Blood tests: People with rheumatoid arthritis tend to have an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR or SED rate), which indicates the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. Blood tests look for rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies.

2. X-rays: Your doctor may recommend X-rays to help track the progression of rheumatoid arthritis in your joints over time.

The most effective treatments
1. Medication: To begin with, medication should be taken as per the doctor’s prescriptions. You can avail of allopathic, homeopathic or Ayurvedic treatments, as per your preference.

2. The hydro miracle: Water in different temperatures can treat arthritis and its different concerns. If you need to ease your pain and relax your tense muscles, a hot shower or bath for 15 minutes is just apt. Cold treatments like cold packs or ice massages are suggested to dull the sensation of pain. Many suffering from rheumatoid arthritis have also found relief by soaking their aching joints in warm water for four minutes and then in cool water for a minute. You need to repeat the cycle for a half-hour, ending with a warm water soak.

“You can even try swimming or gentle water aerobics as part of hydrotherapy,” suggests Dr. Bharathi.

3. Physiotherapy: A physiotherapist can help you find different ways to approach everyday tasks in order to take stress off your painful joints. For instance, if your fingers are sore, pick up an object using your forearms. “Lean into a glass door to force it open, rather than pushing on the door with your arms.” suggests Dr. Bharathi.

4. Regular exercise: Last but not the least, exercising regularly and staying fit is essential for arthritis because the heavier you are, the more the stress on the joints. Light exercises with the doctor’s advice can help to strengthen the muscles around your joints and prevent fatigue from setting in. Lots of yoga centers like Iyengar Institute, Pune have special medical batches to treat this condition. If you’re just getting started, walking is the best option.

Visit the doctor regularly to nip arthritis in the earlier stages, rather than neglecting the symptoms and aggravating the disease.