Significant improvements have been reported by more than 5,000 people through this non-invasive,
non-medical approach to alleviating pain and suffering.
The word arthritis means joint inflammation. Although there are more
than 100 types of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is the most difficult
form of arthritis to control and can do the most damage to the joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, a disorder that occurs when antibodies
in the blood system designed to attack viruses and infections mistakenly target the
body's own healthy tissues. Rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints lined with a synovial
membrane. The synovial membrane protects cartilage and bone materials where two bones meet,
and also produces a fluid to lubricate the joint called synovial fluid. Inflammation of the
joint occurs when the synovial membrane becomes thickened and produces larger then normal
amounts of synovial fluid. Inflammation can also occur in the tissue around the joints,
including the tendons, ligaments. and muscles. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause inflammation of
other organs of the body as well, including the glands of the eyes and mouth, the blood vessels,
and the outer lining of the heart and lungs. Severe rheumatoid arthritis can cause permanent
damage to the body tissue and cartilage, and can deform and even destroy the joint itself.
Although rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease, a person may go for long periods of time
without experiencing any symptoms. Absence of symptoms, or remission, can last days, months or years.
Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Very little is understood by modern medicine regarding the onset of rheumatoid arthritis,
however the following points are generally accepted:
it may be genetically related
infections or viruses may be involved in its onset
environmental factors might be involved
stress hastens the progress of the disease and make symptoms worse
Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Common symptoms include:
joint inflammation (mostly affecting the small joints, hands, wrists, feet and knees)
pain in the joints and muscles
stiffness in the joints (especially in the morning or after long periods of inactivity)
swelling in the joints
lack of appetite
low grade fever
extreme fatigue
lumps under the skin (rheumatoid nodules) around the elbows and fingers.
Demographics
Rheumatoid arthritis affects more than 2 million people in the United States.
Three times as many women suffer from rheumatoid arthritis as men.
Onset of rheumatoid arthritis is usually between 40 and 60, but it can begin at any age.
Disclaimer: The content in these information pages is provided by the
Maharishi Ayurveda Foundation. It is for information
purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice or to replace the advice given by a
primary health care provider. Because of the rapid change of information in the field of medicine
Maharishi Ayurveda Foundation does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the
information provided.
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