Are you suffering from discomfort and stiffness in your joints? You’re not alone. Estimates suggest that there are over 350 million people in the world currently living with some form of arthritis. However, autoimmune arthritis, such as rheumatoid, is the most common form.
Autoimmune arthritis is caused by your immune system attacking the lining in your joints. This creates inflammation that not only impacts the joints but also within your organs. However, symptoms are not the same for every person, with some only facing minor inflammation while others face severe stiffness and discomfort that can prevent them from living the life they once did.
What types of autoimmune arthritis are there?
As the most common form of arthritis, there are various autoimmune conditions that could impact your joints. Some of the most common include:
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid is the most common form of autoimmune arthritis and often sees sufferers facing swelling and discomfort in their feet, wrists, and hands. It often impacts women more than men.
Psoriatic Arthritis
This form of arthritis typically impacts those people who have psoriasis. It can affect almost any joint in the body.
Reactive Arthritis
Reactive arthritis usually occurs in patients who have experienced bacterial infections, and alongside typical joint discomfort, they can also notice burning when urinating, rashes, and red eyes.
Ankylosing Spondylarthritis
Another common form of autoimmune arthritis is Ankylosing Spondylarthritis, which targets the spine and causes significant stiffness and discomfort.
Juvenile Arthritis
While many people mistakenly believe autoimmune arthritis only impacts older people, this is not the case. Hundreds of thousands of youngsters live with the condition, facing joint discomfort, fevers, rashes, and eye inflammation.
Palindromic Rheumatism
This is a rare form of autoimmune arthritis that causes sudden bouts of inflammation in your joints before resolving by itself. The most common parts of the body affected include the wrists, fingers, and knees.
What are the symptoms of autoimmune arthritis?
While the above list features some of the most common forms of autoimmune arthritis, it is not a completely comprehensive list. There is a wide range of conditions that could impact anyone, and some of the most common symptoms to look out for include:
- Regularly facing fevers
- Frequent fatigue
- Mild or severe discomfort in your joints
- Joint stiffness
- Swelling in your joints
- A feeling of weakness
These symptoms can vary significantly depending on the type of autoimmune arthritis an individual is facing.
What causes autoimmune arthritis?
While autoimmune arthritis can impact anyone, there are certain risk factors that can make individuals more susceptible to developing the condition. Genetics plays a major role in the condition, as does family history, and if arthritis is common amongst your immediate family, then it makes an individual higher risk.
However, autoimmune arthritis is not solely caused by genetics. Various environmental factors can cause your immune system to start targeting itself. While research is still ongoing into what could cause this, some of the most likely are:
- Smoking
- Exposure to toxins as a young child (such as second-hand smoke)
- Obesity
- Frequent drinking
Certain conditions are also more common in men and women. For example, women are more likely to suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis, while men have a higher risk level of developing Ankylosing Spondylarthritis.
How is autoimmune arthritis diagnosed?
Regularly noticing that you are suffering from the symptoms of autoimmune arthritis is a clear indication that you should seek professional help. A doctor will be able to study your immune system and determine whether you have the condition, what could be causing it, and what you might be able to do to improve your symptoms.
When examining you, a doctor will first ask about the symptoms you are experiencing, your personal medical history, and your family history. If further diagnosis is required, then your doctor may want you to undertake:
- Image scans
These scans, such as an MRI, CT, or X-Ray, will allow them to get a clear insight into your joints, allowing them to identify signs of damage.
- Blood testing
Another common way to diagnose autoimmune arthritis is through blood testing. This will allow your doctor to review your blood cell count, antibodies, rheumatoid factor, and rates of erythrocyte sedimentation.
- Tissue sampling
Your doctor might also want to conduct a tissue sample, as this will allow them to diagnose specific conditions such as psoriasis.
While these tests are not a definitive way to diagnose autoimmune arthritis, they can help to give your doctor an indication.
Can you treat autoimmune arthritis?
Autoimmune arthritis can impact individuals in various different ways, and while there is no direct cure for the condition, there are many things that you can do to treat the condition and reduce your symptoms.
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your doctor might suggest for you to follow a course of medication. This could include:
- Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID)
- Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARD)
- Biologic Agents
- Corticosteroids
- Biologics such as TNF-Alpha inhibitors
- Immunosuppressant Drugs
Of course, medication is not the only solution. Many people suffering from autoimmune arthritis have found that physical therapy can also help to alleviate symptoms. A professional physical therapist will be able to help teach you exercises that you can follow to reduce inflammation and stiffness.
This exercise does not need to be strenuous. Regular walks and swimming are low-impact activities that you can participate in. The more frequently you get moving, the more you will be able to get the blood flowing and the lower the discomfort you feel.
Exercise is not the only environmental factor that you can change to help reduce your symptoms. Smoking is one of the biggest contributors to increasing your symptoms, so stopping can help to transform the discomfort you are experiencing. Following a healthier diet and maintaining a healthy weight is also another great way to improve your overall fitness and minimize the symptoms you are experiencing.
Looking to improve your autoimmune arthritis?
Here at JointFuel360, we know how much autoimmune arthritis can impact your day-to-day living. That is why we have developed an all-natural joint supplement designed to help relieve discomfort, reduce inflammation and stiffness, and improve your flexibility.
Our completely drug-free supplement will help to promote stronger joints, and when taken alongside a healthy diet and lifestyle, it can transform how autoimmune arthritis impacts your life. Developed by Jupiter Laboratories, JointFuel360 is created from completely natural ingredients, and many of our customers have been able to notice improvements in as little as seven days. However, we do recommend that you follow the course for 30 to 90 days to enjoy the maximum result.
Suitable for all types of autoimmune arthritis, our supplement can target any joint in the body. This ensures that no matter where you are in most discomfort, Joint Fuel 360 can get you moving again and improve the health of your joints.
Want to find out more? Check out the full list of ingredients within the supplement, or get in touch with our friendly team, who will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
The post What Is Autoimmune Arthritis? appeared first on JointFuel360 Official.
Comments
Post a Comment