RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS Myths and Fact
RA is a chronic disease, which means that even with effective treatment a person with RA will continue to have the disease throughout his or her life. However, this does not mean that just because you have RA your chances for leading a normal, happy, and productive life are decreased.
Here are some common myths and misconceptions about RA, followed by the facts.
MYTH: RA is a disease that affects mostly the elderly
RA is not a disease of old age.For instance, the incidence tends to peak earlier for women than men, at about ages 55 to 64 years for women, compared with 75 to 84 years for men. However, RA can occur at any age.
MYTH: RA is no different from osteoarthritis
RA and osteoarthritis are very different diseases. Both affect the joints and involve pain and disability. However, the two diseases differ in terms of the CAUSE of joint pain.
In osteoarthritis, a disease that affects mostly people in their middle and old age, joint pain is caused by wear and tear on aging joints.
In RA, which can affect a person at any age, joint pain and damage result from an inflammatory autoimmune process, in which the immune system malfunctions and turns against the body’s own healthy tissue (in RA the joints and related structures) causing inflammation and damage.
MYTH: Even with early diagnosis and aggressive treatment, damage and disability is still inevitable with RA
Progress made over the past couple decades has increased our understanding of RA and improved our ability to treat the disease. Just a few decades ago, RA was a disease often associated with progressive disability. However, this is no longer the case for most patients. With the development of disease-modifying antirheumatic (DMARDs) and newer biologics.
These treatment advances have allowed more and more patients with RA to lead full and normal lives.
MYTH: Most people with RA eventually end up in a wheelchair, unable to work, or in a nursing home
The course of RA can be very different from patient to patient and there are patients for whom the disease can be severe and cause a high level of disability.
However, with recent advances in treatment, more and more patients are able to lead full and active lives. Somewhat less than 20% of RA patients will achieve clinical remission, with or without treatment. Another 75% of patients can achieve low disease activity with continued treatment.
MYTH: RA can be cleared up by making lifestyle changes or just using pain medications
RA is just one of many forms of arthritis. arthritis that may respond well to lifestyle changes alone, such as weight loss, dietary changes, or exercise, RA requires special medications proven to control the autoimmune process that is at the heart of the disease. These medications include disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) including newer biologic treatments.
MYTH: RA involves only joint pain and damage
RA can affect the entire cardiovascular system including the heart, lungs, and blood vessels throughout the body. This is important to know, because you need to treat the disease to limit the damage and health problems related to RA
MYTH:is caused by unhealthy eating, excess weight gain, and stress
RA is similar to other autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Crohn’s disease, in that we do not understand exactly why some people get it and others don’t. However, we are pretty sure that RA does not result from any single lifestyle factor, such as stress, excess weight gain, or unhealthy eating.
MYTH: Diagnosis of RA can be made using simple blood tests and x-ray
Although blood tests, including measurement of several substances that may be present in the blood of patients with RA such as rheumatoid factor (RF), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody, as well as x-ray results, can be useful when making a diagnosis, these cannot be used alone to confirm the diagnosis of RA.
MYTH: Treatment with DMARDs is not necessary in the early stages of RA
esults of clinical trials have demonstrated that these drugs can slow or prevent damage to joints and other related structures. Remember that damage to joints, bone, and cartilage can happen very soon after diagnosis.
in early RA with a certain level of disease activity, to start DMARDs soon after diagnosis to prevent or minimize joint and other tissue damage.
MYTH: Exercise can be dangerous for patients with RA because inflamed joints require rest.
Talk to your doctor and your physical therapist about what is an appropriate exercise routine for you and when you may need to rest particular joints or tissues to prevent damage.
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