October 12 was World Arthritis Day, a day of raising awareness of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. What is rheumatoid arthritis anyway? How can it impact on one's quality of life? It's never too late to learn what it is and what can be done to treat it. Here to teach us all about rheumatoid arthritis is Beijing United Family Hospital (BJU) Rheumatologist, Dr. Yanping Zhang.What is rheumatoid arthritis, and how is it different from osteoarthritis?Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition. It occurs when your immune system recognizes part of your body as foreign and attacks it by mistake. It can cause inflammation, swelling, and pain in and around the joints. In some people, the condition can damage other body organs.Osteoarthritis (OA) is primarily a degenerative joint condition. In people with OA, there is a breakdown of the cartilage that cushions their joints, and the damage causes the bones to rub against each other. This exposes small nerves, causing pain. It does not involve an autoimmune response as RA does.
What are the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include:- Tender, warm, swollen joints, or joint deformity;
- Joint stiffness in the mornings and after inactivity;
- Fatigue, fever, and loss of appetite.
Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect many non-joint structures, including skin, eyes, lungs, blood vessels, etc. Is gout a type of rheumatoid arthritis?Arthritis is an umbrella term that describes inflammation of the joints. Gout is a type of arthritis. Gout and rheumatoid arthritis are different types of arthritis.
Who is at risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis? Can it be prevented?The exact causes of rheumatoid arthritis are unclear, but certain factors increase a person's risk, including being a female, family history, smoking, and obesity. Rheumatoid arthritis most commonly begins in middle age. It may not be possible to prevent rheumatoid arthritis, but we strongly suggest avoiding smoking (or quitting smoking if you smore) and maintaining a healthy body weight.
Will rheumatoid arthritis cause disability?Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic and disabling inflammatory disorder. It results in progressive destruction of articular structures and deforming of the affected joints. Despite new types of medications and other improved treatment options, severe rheumatoid arthritis can still cause physical disabilities.
What treatment options are available for rheumatoid arthritis? To reduce inflammation of the joints and to relieve pain, we use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and/or corticosteroids. We also do arthrocentesis (also known as joint aspiration) and intra-articular injection.To minimize any loss of joint function caused by pain, joint damage, or deformity, or to prevent damage to the joints, we use disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) - for example, methotrexate, leflunomide, sulfasalazine, and hydroxychloroquine. We also treat the patient with a biologic agent, for example, etanercept, infliximab, and adalimumab. In addition, we offer physiotherapy and other alternative therapy such as acupuncture and surgery to repair the damaged joints if necessary.
Who and when should someone consider seeing a Rheumatologist?See a Rheumatologist if you have the following symptoms or signs:- Skin rash,skin nodule, skin ulcer
- Raynaud's phenomenon: cold fingers or toes, skin color changes in response to cold or stress, and numb or prickly feeling upon relief
- Fever with unknown etiology
- Dry mouth and/or dry eyes
See a rheumatologist if you experience persistent discomfort and swelling in your joints, especially if you are planning for a pregnancy or are pregnant with any of the above symptoms.Reference:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353648
Dr. Yanping Zhang is a Rheumatologist and Intensive Care Unit physician at BJU within the Department of Internal Medicine. She has more than 20 years of clinical experience in Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine. Back in 2008, Dr. Zhang was in charge of the Emergency services in the Olympic Village during the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games. She speaks English, Mandarin, and French. To make an appointment with her, please call the BJU Service Center at 4008-919191.