Important Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms That You Should Be Aware Of

Rheumatoid arthritis can cause a disruption of the quality of life sufferers are used to. The fact is that it does afflict millions of people. The earliest rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are generally redness and swelling of the smaller joints of the feet and hands.

Rheumatoid arthritis is not the same as osteoarthritis which causes pain and stiffness because of the deterioration of cartilage which cushions the bones at the joints and prevents them from rubbing together. Osteoarthritis is caused by the deterioration of the cartilage which provides cushioning of the bones at joints to prevent them from rubbing together. Rheumatoid arthritis pain is the result of inflammation of the membranes that lubricate joints. It would seem that pain and stiffness is enough, but nodules and lumps can also appear.

To date, there has been much research conducted to study rheumatoid arthritis symptoms for the purpose of preventing worsening of the condition, but more research is needed. At the present time, doctors are limited to making the diagnosis after the initial symptoms present themselves.

While the ultimate cause of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms is not fully understood, the reasons for them are. Most believe that it is some form of auto-immune system disorder. The auto-immune system is an important body function which helps to destroy harmful bacteria and viruses when they enter the body. If for some reason, this system is not working correctly it can turn on the body itself and cause inflammation, swelling and the joints to become stiff. It can even affect other body parts.

Some not so familiar rheumatoid arthritis symptoms that are serious are inflammation of the lining of the lungs and heart. At times inflammation can occur at the salivary glands and the tear ducts. It even rarely causes inflammation of the lungs and blood vessels Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are most recognized as appearing at the small joints, but the same symptoms can also occur more frequently when treatment options are not followed.

The most prevalent treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis symptoms pay close attention to the inflammation which causes the pain and swelling. The favored courses of action are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but often harsh side effects can accompany these.

Many rheumatoid arthritis sufferers experience a variety of intensities from time to time. Even though drugs have been the favored treatment option, today there are some more natural treatments available that do not cause the same types of side effects.

If you knew that you could treat this debilitating disease with something more natural that would not cause those unpleasant side effects wouldn’t you give it a try.