Even though many Canadians have heard about rheumatoid arthritis (RA), many don’t know the real facts about this disease. It’s a disease that can have devastating affects on a person’s quality of life, and if it is not diagnosed and treated early, it can lead to irreversible joint damage and disability.
According to information on the websites of The Arthritis Society (www.arthritis.ca) and JointHealth (www.jointhealth.org), some key facts you should know about rheumatoid arthritis include:
Fact 1:
Rheumatoid arthritis is not an older person’s disease. In fact, it can affect people of all ages from young children to seniors, but it usually appears between the ages of 25 and 50.
Fact 2:
RA is more common than you think. Approximately 300,000 or one in every 100 adult Canadians develop the disease.
Fact3:
Moderate to severe RA may reduce a person’s life span by as much as 12 years, if left untreated.
Fact 4:
Rheumatoid arthritis seems to affect women two out of three times more often than men and it has a tendency to attack people in the prime of their lives.
Fact 5:
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the lining of the joints. It is a disease process (like diabetes) where the body’s immune system attacks its own healthy joints by mistake, usually affecting the hands and feet.
Fact 6:
Rheumatoid arthritis can cause so much pain and swelling in and around the joints that people have difficulty doing the simplest things such as walking, cooking and getting dressed.
Fact 7:
RA may start gradually or with a sudden, severe attack of flu-like symptoms. People may feel very weak and tired, they may have a fever or lose weight, they may experience morning stiffness that lasts longer than 30 minutes, but joint pain will be the main symptom. If any of these symptoms last more than two weeks, talk to a physician.
Fact 8:
A cure for RA has not yet been discovered, but being diagnosed early and starting the right treatment regimen allows patients to take control of the disease and reduces the risk of permanently damaging their joints.
Fact 9:
Medications are used to reduce the pain and swelling, and to help patients avoid severe damage to their joints. Most people can lead active and healthy lives with the help of the right medication including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, and a new class of medications known as biologics.
Fact 10:
In addition to medication, rest, appropriate exercise, physical therapy, social support, job and home support, eating a well-balanced diet and joint protection should also be part of the overall treatment plan to ensure success in managing rheumatoid arthritis.
You are not alone if you have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Speak to your doctor about local support groups and other resources available to you in your community or visit www.arthritis.ca, www.jointhealth.org, or www.ihaveoptions.ca.
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