Rheumatoid arthritis is certainly the most dangerous and severe form of arthritis. It is known to attack both joints and some internal organs including eyes, lungs and heart. The signs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) include painful joint and eyes inflammations.
The most important thing in all RA treatments is detecting this disease as soon as possible. Unlike other forms of arthritis, RA does most of the damage during first twenty-four months. As there is no cure to this disease, the best thing we can hope for is to stop its progress as soon as possible or at least alleviate the pain and minimize the secondary damage.
Usually the "first line" drugs in the fight against RA are Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. Many of them can be bought without prescription, though the strongest ones must be prescribed by your doctor. Another important "first line" defense is a proper diet, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. They reduce the problems related to decreased joint mobility as well as reduce the inflammations. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish oil, but unless you switch to some fish-rich diet permanently, food supplements such as Omega Daily are much better solution.
Rheumatoid Arthritis can be also fought by other medications. The most effective, but also the most effective are Biological Response Modifiers. While they can virtually stop the progress of RA, their cost prohibits their wider use. A year-long treatment can cost more than twenty-five thousand dollars.
For those who can't afford Biologics, there is also much cheaper alternative: DMARD (Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs). While they are very slow-acting, they effectively slow down the RA progress, reducing the damage it does to the bone and joint.
There are also a few other things you should do to minimize the effects of RA. First of all, do some exercises, preferably swimming. This will strengthen the muscles around the joints, reducing the stress put on them during their movement. This means that joints will deteriorate much slower and the problems with their flexibility will not show up anytime soon. However, remember about talking to your doctor before you start any training program - he will tell you what exercises will be the best for you. Another thing you may want to try is using cold ice packs on inflamed joints to reduce pain and swelling.
The exact reason for rheumatoid arthritis is, so far, unknown. It may be hereditary, but some researchers still consider the possibility of RA being infectious, so no one can really feel safe. As RA does most of the damage very quickly, you need to consult your doctor as soon as you start to suspect that you may have joints inflammations or when you feel the morning stiffness. RA needs to be treated as soon as possible.
The Article Author: Andrew John reports on subjects that are important in helping people help themselves. For more information on Omega Daily and Omega-3 fatty acids just click on the links. Click here to get your own unique version of this article.
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