Rheumatoid arthritis is certainly the most dangerous and severe form of arthritis. It is known to attack both joints and some internal organs including eyes, lungs and heart. The signs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) include painful joint and eyes inflammations.
The most important thing in all RA treatments is detecting this disease as soon as possible. Unlike other forms of arthritis, RA does most of the damage during first twenty-four months. As there is no cure to this disease, the best thing we can hope for is to stop its progress as soon as possible or at least alleviate the pain and minimize the secondary damage.
Usually the "first line" drugs in the fight against RA are Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. Many of them can be bought without prescription, though the strongest ones must be prescribed by your doctor. Another important "first line" defense is a proper diet, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. They reduce the problems related to decreased joint mobility as well as reduce the inflammations. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish oil, but unless you switch to some fish-rich diet permanently, food supplements such as Omega Daily are much better solution.
Biologics are another branch of anti-RA drugs. They work by modifying the body's reactions in an attempt to stop the immune system from attacking the joints. They are quite effective, but their price is much above the level of an average citizen - especially that this treatment is covered only by the most expensive policies.
For those who can't afford Biologics, there is also much cheaper alternative: DMARD (Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs). While they are very slow-acting, they effectively slow down the RA progress, reducing the damage it does to the bone and joint.
Besides medications, there is also a few other things you may want to do in order to make your life with rheumatoid arthritis easier. First, you need to accept that RA won't go, so you can't simply "wait until it is gone." While some activities are beyond of your reach, it does not mean that you can only sit down and watch TV. Another important thing is that you need to do some sport. While you may feel it is safer to put no stress at all to your joints, this will only speed up the disease progress. Strong muscles reduce the impact of RA and increase the flexibility of your joints. However, you'd better choose such exercises that do not harm your joints - usually swimming is the best idea.
Remember, RA is too common disease to ignore it. It affects about 1% of the population and can't be cured. If you feel some pain in the joints and you feel stiff in the morning, contact your doctor immediately - there is a good chance that you've got rheumatoid arthritis.
The most important thing in all RA treatments is detecting this disease as soon as possible. Unlike other forms of arthritis, RA does most of the damage during first twenty-four months. As there is no cure to this disease, the best thing we can hope for is to stop its progress as soon as possible or at least alleviate the pain and minimize the secondary damage.
Usually the "first line" drugs in the fight against RA are Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. Many of them can be bought without prescription, though the strongest ones must be prescribed by your doctor. Another important "first line" defense is a proper diet, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. They reduce the problems related to decreased joint mobility as well as reduce the inflammations. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish oil, but unless you switch to some fish-rich diet permanently, food supplements such as Omega Daily are much better solution.
Biologics are another branch of anti-RA drugs. They work by modifying the body's reactions in an attempt to stop the immune system from attacking the joints. They are quite effective, but their price is much above the level of an average citizen - especially that this treatment is covered only by the most expensive policies.
For those who can't afford Biologics, there is also much cheaper alternative: DMARD (Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs). While they are very slow-acting, they effectively slow down the RA progress, reducing the damage it does to the bone and joint.
Besides medications, there is also a few other things you may want to do in order to make your life with rheumatoid arthritis easier. First, you need to accept that RA won't go, so you can't simply "wait until it is gone." While some activities are beyond of your reach, it does not mean that you can only sit down and watch TV. Another important thing is that you need to do some sport. While you may feel it is safer to put no stress at all to your joints, this will only speed up the disease progress. Strong muscles reduce the impact of RA and increase the flexibility of your joints. However, you'd better choose such exercises that do not harm your joints - usually swimming is the best idea.
Remember, RA is too common disease to ignore it. It affects about 1% of the population and can't be cured. If you feel some pain in the joints and you feel stiff in the morning, contact your doctor immediately - there is a good chance that you've got rheumatoid arthritis.
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The Article Author: Andrew John reports on topics that are important in helping people help themselves. For additional info about on Omega Daily and Omega-3 fatty acids just click on the links.
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