The term arthritis is very common currently. Therefore, I know you have ever come across it either while studying or you have been affected directly or indirectly by this disease. However, there are two different types of arthritis that include the Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis. For osteoarthritis, it affects the knees, neck, hips, and other joints. This is a type of arthritis is caused because of doing a certain task repetitively or playing a sport on a daily basis.
For Rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints especially the joints such as the elbow, shoulder, knees, feet, hand, and ankles. In addition, it can affect other body organs like kidney, heart, eyes, lungs, skin and other body organs. Therefore, in this article, I am going to educate you about Rheumatoid arthritis and why it affects many women.
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is caused when your immune system attacks your body tissues. This type of arthritis makes your joints to swell and become painful. In most cases, it causes physical disability because your bones erode leading joint irregularity. The swelling of the joints when rheumatoid arthritis attacks you cause some of your body organs to be damaged.
Signs and Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Like other disorders, Rheumatoid arthritis has symptoms too. Thus, the following are the signs that help you know that you are affected by this type of arthritis.
- Exhaustion
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Your joint become stiff more especially when you are inactive
- Swollen joints
- Anemia
- Lung and eye inflammation
- Subcutaneous nodules
During the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis, it tends to affect the joints on your hands. As days go the symptoms continue to become severe. It will affect other joints on both sides of your body. Furthermore, most people suffering from this disorder tend to experience other signs and symptoms that may not be related to rheumatoid arthritis.
The following organs are affected when you are suffering from this type of arthritis: heart, lungs, skin, kidneys, bone marrow, blood vessel, and salivary gland. In addition, it can affect other body organs apart from the above mentioned.
However, don’t lose hope once you are diagnosed with this disorder there are treatment options that may help you tackle this disease. You can also attend clinical trials of rheumatoid arthritis they tend to be helpful but you have to volunteer yourself as a patient.
Why is Rheumatoid Arthritis Common Among Women?
I cannot say that this disorder only affects women but men are affected by this type of arthritis too. However, currently, the number of women affected by this disorder is high than that of men. According to medical reports, many women tend to affect at the age of 50 and above. But it affects some even younger women.
So, don’t assume when your joints start becoming painful. It might be RA. But according to several rheumatologists, it is not well known why RA affects women in most cases. Out of every man affected by RA, two or three women are suffering from this disorder. On the other hand, it is seen as a genetic disorder that is why women are affected by this disease. Other factors that may lead to one being affected include hormones, environment, and stress.
Once you are diagnosed with this disease it is advisable you seek prompt medical attention. This will help to reduce the damage it will cause to your joints and body organs. In addition, you need to find the best rheumatologist that will guide you appropriately. If you are a woman then been keen once you start developing the signs related to RA. Also, know that it can affect you at any age.
Factors that Increase the Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis
There are many things that may put you at risk of being affected by rheumatoid arthritis. First, age is one of the risk factors that can lead to you being affected by this disorder. In many cases, men and women who have attained the age of 40 and above are more likely to be affected by this disease. However, it is not certain you might be young and become affected by RA.
Genetic composition is another factor that can lead to you been affected by RA. Maybe your parents or grandparents were suffering from this disorder and through genetic composition, you have inherited this disorder. Another risk factor is cigarette smoking if you smoke cigarette constantly you are at the risk of being affected by this disease. So, if you are cigarette addict you need to desist because you are putting yourself in a position of being affected by RA.
Chemical exposure is another factor that puts you at a high risk of being affected by rheumatoid arthritis. If you are exposed to chemicals such as silica and asbestos, you need to seek medical attention. This is because they are some of the causes of rheumatoid arthritis. Finally, if you are obese you are more likely to suffer from RA. However, this is mostly among women. You tend to start experiencing signs and symptoms that are related to rheumatoid arthritis.
In order to avoid suffering from RA, you need to know to avoid these factors.
Problems Due to Rheumatoid Arthritis
As said before RA leads to several other complications. So, if you are suffering from RA and you are not under any medical condition then you are at risk of contracting other diseases. Therefore, the following are disorders that you can contract if you are suffering from RA.
The first disease is rheumatoid nodules. This is disorder affects any of your body parts. You can develop tissue bumps on parts such as your elbow or other parts. Osteoporosis is another problem that you can suffer from once you are diagnosed with RA.
Deduction
RA tends to affect most women. Sometimes age matters but to others women, it can affect you at a younger age. Therefore, ensure you go for clinical checkups every month in order to realize if you might be suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.