Arthritis Reumatoide

Arthritis Reumatoide

Arthritis reumatoide, also known as rheumatoid arthritis, is a chronic arthritis that affects both sides of the body. Arthritis reumatoide causes joint pain and swelling, stiffness, and fatigue. Stiffness is common in the morning and often lasts for over an hour.

The joints commonly affected are the hands, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, and feet. Hips, shoulders, jaw, and vertebrae in the neck can also be affected. In addition to affecting the joints, arthritis reumatoide may affect the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, blood, nerves, or kidneys.

Women are at higher risk of developing arthritis reumatoide, but it tends to be more severe in men. The exact cause is unknown. It seems to be caused by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. In arthritis reumatoide, the immune system begins to attack the joints and sometimes other parts of the body.

Treatment of arthritis reumatoide focuses on controlling pain and addressing the damage to the joints. Medications used to treat this disorder include anti-inflammatory pain medication, topical pain relievers, corticosteroids, and narcotic pain medication. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs may be prescribed. They work by suppressing the immune system attack on the joints. Surgery may be used to correct damage to the joints.