What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis ? The Fast Facts

Rheumatoid arthritis is commonly known to be an inflammatory form of arthritis, which is chronic in nature and is characterized by swelling, redness and pain in the joints. The diseases have been classified as a typical autoimmune disease, wherein the immune cells tend to attack the healthy tissues of the body. The joints are, however, the worst effected parts in case of rheumatoid arthritis and the condition is very painful. Nonetheless, if rheumatoid arthritis is systemic, it can as well affect the internal organs of the body as well.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Cause:

All You Need To Know About Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, also known as JRA is a condition effecting children and is a type of arthritis. The condition is also known as childhood arthritis, Juvenile idiopathic arthritis or Still?s disease.

Juvenile arthritis, like any other type of arthritis is characterized by the inflammation of joints and it tends to last for about 6 weeks. This condition is commonly seen on children who are less than 16 years of age and is probably one of the common forms of arthritis that affects children. Most of the times, the symptoms of the juvenile rheumatoid arthritis tends to fade over time; it might take a few months or even a year to relieve completely.

However, the condition can as well be very complicated. The classification of this type of arthritis is done on the basis of the joint that has been affected, the symptoms and the results of the tests carried out. Treatment is based on the results derived. The focus of the treatment procedures lie in preserving the physical activities of the child in order to allow proper movements of the joint and preventing further damage. Also, controlling the pain is a major factor.

Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis ? The Similarities and Differences

Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are two unusual conditions, but are basically autoimmune diseases that tends to attack the own body very similarly. This causes all the confusion and a person having rheumatoid arthritis ends up thinking that he has lupus and vice versa.

Autoimmune diseases are particularly caused by a breakdown of the human immune system. It fails to discriminate between the own tissues and cells of the body and the foreign matters, such as the viruses. Instead of producing antibodies for attacking the antigens, like the bacteria, viruses and other such invaders, the immune system develops auto-antibodies which tends to attack the own tissues as well as the organs of the individual.

Rheumatoid arthritis can cause swelling and stiffness, followed by tremendous pain and lack of functionality of the joints. It is very commonly triggered in our wrist as well as our fingers, but can severely affect our joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is very common in women than in men and it onsets between 25 to 55 years of age. The severity of rheumatoid arthritis is such that it can deeply affect the internal organs and reach places much beyond our joints. It affects are seen on the eyes, lungs, mouth and kidneys as well.

The Osteoarthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis Difference

Osteoarthritis happens to be a common arthritis type and has similar symptoms like rheumatoid arthritis. However, rheumatoid arthritis leads to a more crippling and disabling condition and is more of severe form.

The Difference

Osteoarthritis, which is also known to be a degenerative disease of the joints or the wear-and-tear arthritis, is caused due to the breaking down of the joint cartilages. Cartilage is almost like that of a cushion between our bones that forms the joints. The loss of cartilage can result in the rubbing of one bone with the other in our joints; this indeed is a very painful condition. Osteoarthritis generally initiates in one single joint.

On the other hand, rheumatoid arthritis is more of a chronic condition and is an inflammatory arthritis type. It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune cells tend to attack the own body?s healthy tissues. The synovium, which is the lining of our joints, is mostly affected in rheumatoid arthritis, but all the other internal organs are at equal risk of being affected. Rheumatoid arthritis involves multiple joints and the damage caused can lead to impaired mobility.