Head Shoulders Knees and Toes
Remember the old childhood song of head, shoulders, knees and toes? Unfortunately it`s not always easy for people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to accomplish, given that simply buttoning a sweater can prove to be a challenge. RA is an autoimmune disease whose initial cause is not yet known to medical professionals. This particular autoimmune disease mistakenly attacks healthy tissues, leading to long-term inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues, as well as other organs. Generally RA is most common in middle age, but it can affect people in any age group. Women are more prone to RA than men, leading some health professional to believe that a predisposition to infection, genetics and hormonal changes may play a larger role than previously thought.
This debilitating condition usually begins with morning stiffness that lasts more than an hour and warm, tender and stiffened joints when out of motion for more than an hour. Generally joint pain is equally distributed to both sides of the body, and over time, joints may lose their range of motion and possibly become deformed. There are other signs associated with RA, such as chest pain when breathing, dry eyes and mouth, itchy and burning eyes or a discharge excreting from the eyes area, numbness, tingling, or burning in the hands and feet.
Though there is no definitive test for RA, if you experience any of these symptoms, your health professional may recommend two lab tests that have been proven helpful in diagnosis:
- Rheumatoid factor test
- Anti-CCP antibody test
If you think you may have RA, contact your health professional right away; there are medicinal treatments that can be coupled with homeopathic remedies that can help improve your quality of life. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis please visit: www.ra.com for support, information and how to volunteer.
