I Have Rheumatoid Arthritis And Heard About Actemra In The News What Is It

•Can Not Having Enough Vitamin D Make My Rheumatoid Arthritis Worse
In addition to the other health problems associated with vitamin D deficiency, there is another one. Not having enough vitamin D can make rheumatoid arthritis (and other inflammatory arthritis, possibly) symptoms worse. These findings were reported recently by researchers in the United Kingdom. In the July issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism, Dr. Sanjeev Patel of St. Helier University Hospital, Carsholton, and colleagues note that there is evidence that vitamin D and its metabolite...

•Why Is The Thyroid Gland So Important In Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory form of arthritis, affecting more than 2 million Americans. It is a chronic, systemic, progressive autoimmune process for which there is no cure, currently. However, there are medications available that can put this disease into remission. Prior to treating rheumatoid arthritis, it is important than any patient suspected of having the disease undergo a thorough and complete examination. This will include an in-depth history, careful...

•How Early Should Rheumatoid Arthritis Be Diagnosed And Why Is That Important
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common inflammatory, chronic, systemic, autoimmune disease for which there is no known cure. It affects approximately 2.1 million Americans. RA is one of the leading causes of disability. And, because it is a systemic disease it can cause significant damage to other organ systems besides the joints including the eyes, heart, lungs, and blood. The prognosis for this condition has improved dramatically in recent years because of the advent of new drug therapies...

•I Have Rheumatoid Arthritis What Is My Prognosis
This article discusses some of the prognostic factors used to guide arthritis specialists when they treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Evidence suggests there is a narrow window of opportunity, perhaps as slim as 3 months, in which aggressive treatment with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs can reduce x-ray damage and subsequent disability. Once a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis has been made, it is important to recognize those patients who are at high risk for rapidly...

•Is Your Doctor Making These Mistakes With Your Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has come a long way in the last 20 years. It used to be that if you could reduce pain and swelling, you were doing your job as a specialist in arthritis. That is not good enough anymore. Rheumatoid arthritis presents with either the acute onset or slow onset of pain and stiffness with functional impairment; if not treated aggressively, it can result in irreversible joint damage. Irreversible joint damage may occur within three to six months of...

•I Have Rheumatoid Arthritis And I ve Heard Il 6 Is Bad What Is It
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•What Is Inflammatory Arthritis
There is an old joke. It goes like this: Neurologists diagnose the untreatable while rheumatologists treat the undiagnosable. Nothing could be truer than when it comes to what is termed inflammatory arthritis. Most rheumatologists tend to divide arthritis into two major categories: inflammatory and non-inflammatory. The latter category is also termed degenerative arthritis. The major distinction is that inflammatory types of arthritis have a significant amount of inflammatory cells that...

•How Quickly Should Rheumatoid Arthritis Be Treated
Much has been written about the need for early treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. But how early? How aggressively? New research has demonstrated that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment, if given within 15 days of initial presentation compared with four months after diagnosis can lead to remarkable improvement in outcome measures. Most studies have demonstrated that a narrow window of opportunity exists between the onset of rheumatoid arthritis and when treatment can make a difference in...

•Is Rheumatoid Arthritis A Genetic Disease
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory type of arthritis. It affects more than 2 million Americans and is still a leading cause of both disability as well as days lost from work. RA is more common in women than men, and typical onset for the disease is between 25 and 50 years of age. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include swelling, loss of movement, stiffness, and pain in joints, most commonly, the fingers and wrists. RA is to be feared and respected because it is a...

•I Have Rheumatoid Arthritis And Am Worried About Heart Attack Risk
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you should be worried about risk from cardiovascular events. That includes both heart attacks and strokes. Women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have high rates of non fatal heart attacks. This occurs even without traditional risk factors being present. (Solomon, et al. Circulation 2003; 107: 1303-1307). The same is probably true for men with RA as well. In addition multiple studies have demonstrated the increased risk of stroke occurring in patients with...