Tag Archives: RA

fighting fatigue rheumatoid arthritis

Fighting the Fatigue of RA

Symptoms ofrheumatoid arthritis (RA)don’t stop at joint pain and swelling. Most people with RA also experience mental and physical exhaustion, a symptom known asfatigue. Studies show that up to 80% of people with RA have at least some sense of feeling run down, and more than 50% have high levels of fatigue.

Terence Starz, MD, a rheumatologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, says the feeling can be described as overwhelming or different from just being tired because it is extreme and seems to come from nowhere. In fact, fatigue may have a greater impact on daily life than pain.

Continue readingFighting the Fatigue of RA

Arthritis Increases Risk of Heart Attack

Risk of Heart Attack Rises After RA Diagnosis

Generally, patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) havehigher levels of inflammation会影响关节以外的其他器官和组织。In fact,people with RA have up to twice the risk of heart diseaseand development of heart failure (especially if they test positive for rheumatoid factor, or RF) than the general population, according to a 2013 Mayo Clinic study published in theAmerican Heart Journal.
Continue readingRisk of Heart Attack Rises After RA Diagnosis

Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares Management Control

Get and Keep Control of Your Rheumatoid Arthritis

When arthritis is active and painful, you have a constant reminder and strong incentive to take your medications. But when your disease is under control, it may be easy to forget a dose or two or you may even be tempted to stop taking your medication altogether. But doing so is not a good idea. The way you are feeling – particularly when you are on medication – is not always an indication of whether there is underlying disease activity. Stopping your medication could cause your disease to flare, resulting in the irreparable joint damage your doctor was aiming to prevent when prescribing medications in the first place.
Continue readingGet and Keep Control of Your Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis Remission Obesity

New Research: Obesity May Reduce the Chance of RA Remission by as Much as Half

People withrheumatoid arthritis(RA) who are obese are less likely to achieve disease remission than their non-obese counterparts, according to a meta-analysis published in May in关节炎护理与研究。The review also found that obesity was associated with higher levels of disease activity and pain, suggesting excess weight may negatively affect overall outcomes in RA. This meta-analysis supports earlier research, including astudypresented at the 2015 annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.
Continue readingNew Research: Obesity May Reduce the Chance of RA Remission by as Much as Half

Rheumatoid Arthritis Outcomes Lifestyle

Outlook Brighter For People With Rheumatoid Arthritis

People withrheumatoid arthritis(RA)今天的生活质量可能比20年前好得多。荷兰的研究人员在1990年至2011年间观察了1100多名被诊断为风湿性关节炎的患者。他们将这种进步归因于更早的诊断、更积极的药物治疗以及对整体健康的更大重视。Their findings were published inArthritis Care & Researchin 2014.

Lead author Cecile Overman, a postdoctoral researcher at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, says she and her colleagues wanted to determine ifimproved treatmentsover the last 20 years led to better physical and psychological health for RA patients.Continue readingOutlook Brighter For People With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis Lung Disease

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lung Problems

Have a cough that won’t quit? Been short of breath lately? It could be a nasty cold or flu virus, or the problem could be related to yourrheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA attacks the joints, but it doesn’t always stop there. It can affect other organs, including the lungs. In fact, some 20 to 30 percent of RA patients will eventually develop RA-related lung disease. Doctors may classify a lung problem as restrictive lung disease (such as interstitial lung disease) or obstructive lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma). Both result in shortness of breath.

Continue readingRheumatoid Arthritis and Lung Problems

Stress and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Can Managing Stress Keep RA Symptoms in Check?

A link between stress andrheumatoid arthritis (RA)is commonly acknowledged. However, scientists continue to explore the connection between the nervous and immune systems and the effect on RA onset and progression. People with RA commonly report experiencing physical or emotional stress when first diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder like RA. However in a 2010 editorial inArthritis Research & Therapy,密歇根大学麻醉学教授Daniel Clauw(他在风湿病和疼痛方面有专长)评论了一篇关于压力与关节炎联系的16项研究的综述。在他的社论中,克劳博士强调了在动物模型中已证实的联系,以及在人类中证明类似的线性关系的困难。

Continue readingCan Managing Stress Keep RA Symptoms in Check?