World Arthritis Day 2020: Seven Early Warning Signs for Rheumatoid Arthritis

World Arthritis Day is held on October 12th each year to raise awareness about the disease and its many types. Spread awareness about arthritis because most people, especially young people, believe that arthritis is an old-age-related illness that cannot affect you well beyond the age of 50 or 60. That is very important. In fact, this misconception can be harmful if you have some kind of early-onset arthritis and miss the signs.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a type of early-onset arthritis. It usually appears between the ages of 30 and 50, but in some cases it may appear earlier. RA is thought to affect only 1% of the world’s population, but according to a 2012 paper published by the American College of Rheumatology, the burden of the disease in India has a prevalence of only 0.34%. Nevertheless it has been shown to be very expensive. This high burden is mainly due to lack of consciousness, delayed diagnosis and therefore inappropriate treatment.

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

It is important that everyone knows what RA is and what its main symptoms are. Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis and is an autoimmune disease. RA is characterized by chronic arthritis and is usually found on the knees, feet, hands and fingers. This is mainly due to the immune system being overactive and accidentally attacking joints rather than foreign microbes. If left untreated, RA can cause bone joint destruction, deformity, and systemic disease that also affects other organs.

Signs of early warning of rheumatoid arthritis

Symptoms of RA may vary from person to person, but like most autoimmune diseases, there are periods when the symptoms become apparent. These seizures are also known as relapses and are known as remission during periods of less noticeable symptoms. When RA relapses, the following symptoms may occur:

1. Joint stiffness: The joints of the fingers and toes are some of the smallest in the body, and if you feel stiffness in these joints, it may be a sign of RA. Rheumatoid arthritis-induced stiffness in small joints usually begins in the hands and may first appear early in the morning.

2. Joint pain: If you don’t notice the hardness, you may end up with pain in small joints. This is due to the natural progression of flare up. Hardness leads to softness, which leads to pain. This joint pain can be noticeable on the fingers, wrists, shoulders, knees, feet, or ankles.

3. Fatigue: As with most autoimmune diseases, fatigue is a common early sign of RA. You may feel more tired than before, and this fatigue may be accompanied by general unhealthy and depressed feelings.

4. Swelling of joints: Inflammation of the joints can cause the joints to swell and feel warm to the touch. This swelling can persist throughout the flare-up if left untreated. The next flare up may or may not cause mild swelling in the same joint.

5. Fever: If you have inflammation or pain, fever may persist. RA-related fever is usually low-grade, and if the body temperature exceeds 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it may be a symptom of another infection or illness.

6. Numbness: Inflammation caused by RA can put pressure on the nerves around the joints. This can cause numbness, tingling, and even symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Also, as you move your fingers, you may feel creaking or cracking in your knuckles. This is a sign of cartilage damage and is common in people with RA.

7. Loss of range of motion: Inflammation, tenderness, and pain in the joints can also affect the surrounding muscles and ligaments, making them more difficult to move. If you notice that the range of motion of your hands and feet is not the same as before, it may be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis.

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