There are more than one hundred different forms of arthritis and rheumatic diseases. Among the more widely known conditions are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and lupus. When I think of arthritis disease the one form that comes to mind is one of the more debilitating forms of arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects about 1% of the population of North America and occurs three times more often in females than in males.  It can occur at any age but typically the age of onset is between 50 and 60. This arthritis disease is a chronic progressive condition that causes the lining of your joints to become inflamed.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease meaning that it affects the entire body. As this arthritis disease progresses it can not only damage the tendons, ligaments, cartilage and bone in the joints but also other areas in the body such as your lungs and blood vessels. 

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease meaning that the body’s immune system is not functioning properly. The immune system does not recognize it’s own tissue and treats it like foreign invaders. With this form of arthritis disease the immune system attacks the joints and surrounding tissue causing long term damage.

Symptoms can come on very suddenly or gradually and the arthritis disease has periods when it is active and periods of remission. When the disease is active, symptoms may include fatigue, lack of appetite, low grade fever, muscle and joint aches and stiffness. Muscle and joint stiffness are usually most notable in the morning and after periods of inactivity. In Rheumatoid arthritis, joints are usually inflamed in a symmetrical pattern (both sides of the body affected). Joints in the hands and wrists are often affected.

See your physician if you are experiencing some of the above symptoms. He will do a physical examination while asking about your medical history and he will also request a blood test. The findings from the blood test will help the doctor determine which form of arthritis disease you have. Your doctor may send you to see a rheumatologist which is a doctor that specializes in diagnosing and treating arthritic diseases. The two may work together to give you the best treatment for your condition.

While you cannot cure your condition, you can adopt a variety of coping techniques that will leave you more active and in control of your life.  You and your joints can remain on good terms.  Learn more from my next blog on arthritis help.

Tags: arthritis, Arthritis Disease, autoimmune disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis

sleep disorders

Newsweek called Medline “the absolute best source of up-to-date medical information on just about every disease or condition, plus any medications you might need to know about. It’s one-stop shopping and your tax dollars pay for it, so you should use it!” The Wall Street Journal added that “MedlinePlus should be the first stop in any internet health search.” The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) gave this health site an 86/100 score, which is the highest of any government site, and Yahoo said it’s one of the “seven most trusted health sites on the net.” If you’re looking for medical advice, information, research or local resources, then join the 32 million visitors who come to Medline each month.

Medline offers many unique functions to enhance your understanding and enrich your life. For instance, if you are about to undergo a colonoscopy or hip replacement surgery, a biopsy, a laparoscopy, LASIK eye surgery or another procedure, then you can watch an interactive tutorial that will show you what will be done and alleviate some of the mystery and anxiety. Another resource you may find very useful is the “Health Check Tools” page, which gives you educational quizzes about breast cancer, arthritis or alcoholism, as well as an “alcohol calorie intake counter,” a mental health screening quiz, a cancer risk questionnaire, a diabetic “rate your plate” assessment, a target heart rate calculator, an interactive menu planner and a risk assessment tool for coronary heart disease.

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Did you hear about a drug on television, from a friend, in the news or from your doctor that you’d like to know more about? Medline has a comprehensive “Drug Information” section. For example, if you were to look up Lunesta, a chronic fatigue drug used to treat sleep disorders, then you can have the following questions answered: Why is this drug prescribed? How should this medication be used? What are other uses for this medication? What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause? What storage conditions are needed for this medication? What should I do in case of an overdose? What other information should I know? What are the brand names for this drug? The answers are presented all on one page with quick, informative, bulleted responses for a quick scan.

As the G.I. Joes said, “Knowing is half the battle.” The more educated you are, the better chance you will have at living efficiently. No one wants to live out the last 20 years of life stuck in a wheelchair with limited mobility. We want to be looking great and feeling great for as long as possible! Whether you’re looking for research to give you renewed optimism for a chronic disease or information on a medical procedure/medication you’ve been prescribed, Medline is a gold mine of medical information, paid for by your tax dollars. So why not take a look and get your money’s worth? Visit Medline at www.Nlm.Nih.gov.

Tags: blood disorders, chronic fatigue, Health Topics, medical information, Medline, Rheumatoid Arthritis, sexually transmitted, skin diseases, sleep disorders