Rheumatoid Arthritis: Greatly Affects Women More Than Men

Arthritis, being a common joint condition of both young and adult, has been categorized into different types.  It is because if the degree of its severity or because of the affected areas or joints, that this is divided into certain classifications.  One of the autoimmune types of arthritis is the rheumatoid arthritis.  It is considered as a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disorder, which means that a person's own immune system is attacking the joints.  With such attack, it disables the joints giving it a painful inflammatory condition that leads to immobility and destruction of the joints.  What's even more painful and dangerous is that it is usually an extra-articular disease, which means that it affects the other organs and parts of the body like the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, muscles, etc.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive type of arthritis, which may start occurring or attacking the joints at an early age and progresses until the person turns or reaches the age of 80.  Because of the progressive feature of rheumatoid arthritis, it leads to even more severe scenarios or conditions --- the inflammatory activity of the joints will lead to the erosion and destruction of the joint surfaces, thus impairing the range of movement which in turns lead to some deformities.
Although compared to other types of arthritis, the rheumatoid arthritis has a lower incidence report.  It usually is more common in women than men, smokers are more likely affected than non-smokers, and family history is a great factor, too. 

Rheumatoid arthritis is one of those types that has no known cure or medical treatment, which is partly the reason why this is a progressive condition.  However, there are available treatments that can alleviate the symptoms and the pain.  There are the traditional treatments, pharmacological treatments, physical treatments, and therapies.  Some of the traditional rheumatoid arthritis treatments include: acupuncture, apple diet, gold salts, nutmeg, nettles, bee venom, copper bracelets, rhubarb diet, honey, vitamins, insulin, magnets, teeth extractions, fasting, and prayer.  Pharmacological treatments of rheumatoid arthritis include: disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, anti-inflammatory agents, and analgesics.  Physical activities and therapies of rheumatoid arthritis include: regular exercise, swimming, weight loss, occupational therapy, podiatry, physiotherapy, joint injections, and maintaining joint mobility.

Rheumatoid arthritis may be untreatable but there are ways to ease the pain and to control the progressiveness of the disorder. Proper diet and exercise may be helpful to prevent such joint disorder.