Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Anti-inflammatories use as Rheumatoid Arthritis medicine

Anti-inflammatory agents used to treat RA traditionally included aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), fenoprofen, indomethacin, naproxen (Naprosyn), and others.
These are widely used medicine that are effective in relieving pain and inflammation associated with RA. However, side effects associated with frequent use of many of these medicine include life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding.
Similar drugs, called Cox-2 inhibitors, are now a mainstay of anti-inflammatory therapy because the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding is significantly reduced with these drugs. Currently, there are two available -- rofecoxib (Vioxx) and celecoxib (Celebrex).
As mentioned, DMARDs alter the course of the disease. Included in this group are gold compounds, which can be injectible (Myochrysine and Solganal) or oral (auranofin/Ridaura). Methotrexate (Rheumatrex) is the most commonly used DMARD for rheumatoid arthritis with good proven effectiveness
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis

by Rusty Ford

RA can begin very gradually, or it can strike quickly. The first symptoms are pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. The most commonly involved joints include hands, feet, wrists, elbows, and ankles, although other joints may also be involved. The joints are affected in a symmetrical fashion. This means that if the right wrist is involved, the left wrist is also involved. Patients frequently experience painful joint stiffness when they first get up in the morning, lasting for perhaps an hour. Over time, the joints become deformed. The joints may be difficult to straighten, and affected fingers and toes may be permanently bent (flexed). The hands and feet may curve outward in an abnormal way.
Many patients also notice increased fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, and sometimes fever. Rheumatoid nodules are bumps that appear under the skin around the joints and on the top of the arms and legs. These nodules can also occur in the tissue covering the outside of the lungs and lining the chest cavity (pleura), and in the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord (meninges). Lung involvement may cause shortness of breath and is seen more in men. Vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels) may interfere with blood circulation. This can result in irritated pits (ulcers) in the skin, tissue death (gangrene), and interference with nerve functioning that causes numbness and tingling.

Read more: http://www.arthritis-symptom.com/Rheumatoid-arthritis-symptoms/rheumatoid-arthritis-diagnosis.htm#ixzz2bumycaIC
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Causes

Rheumatoid Arthritis Causes

by Rusty Ford

The cause of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unknown. However, RA involves an attack on the body by its own immune cells (auto-immune disease). Different cases may have different causes. Infectious, genetic, and hormonal factors may play a role.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Causes - Onset

The disease can occur at any age, but it begins most often between the ages of 25 and 55. The disease is more common in older people. Women are affected 2.5 times more often than men. Approximately 1-2% of the total population is affected. The course and the severity of the illness can vary considerably.
The onset of the disease is usually gradual, with fatigue, morning stiffness (lasting more than one hour), diffuse muscular aches, loss of appetite, and weakness. Eventually, joint pain appears, with warmth, swelling, tenderness, and stiffness of the joint after inactivity.

Read more: http://www.arthritis-symptom.com/Rheumatoid-arthritis-symptoms/rheumatoid-arthritis-cause.htm
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

For the past 10 years, studies have shown that early, aggressive treatment for RA can delay the onset of joint destruction. In addition to rest, strengthening exercises, and anti-inflammatory agents, the current standard of care is to initiate aggressive therapy with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) once the diagnosis is confirmed.
Anti-inflammatory agents used to treat RA traditionally included aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), fenoprofen, indomethacin, naproxen (Naprosyn), and others.
These are widely used medications that are effective in relieving pain and inflammation associated with RA. However, side effects associated with frequent use of many of these medications include life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding.
Similar drugs, called Cox-2 inhibitors, are now a mainstay of anti-inflammatory therapy because the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding is significantly reduced with these drugs. Currently, there are two available -- rofecoxib (Vioxx) and celecoxib (Celebrex).
As mentioned, DMARDs alter the course of the disease. Included in this group are gold compounds, which can be injectible (Myochrysine and Solganal) or oral (auranofin/Ridaura). Methotrexate (Rheumatrex) is the most commonly used DMARD for rheumatoid arthritis with good proven effectiveness.
Antimalarial medications, such as Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), as well as Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), are also beneficial, usually in conjunction with Methotrexate.
The benefits from these medications may take weeks or months to be apparent. Because they are associated with toxic side effects, frequent monitoring of blood tests while on these medications is imperative.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is when your body's immune system attacks and destroys your body's own tissues. In the case of Rheumatoid arthritis the immune system is attacking the joints, organs and other parts of the body. The joints become swollen, stiff, and painful. In later stages, the joints can become deformed. Other areas of your body can also be affected, including your lungs, heart, blood vessels, and eyes. About 1 percent of the U.S. population suffers from RA. Typically, it strikes between the ages of 30 and 60, but it can occur at any age.

Read more: http://www.arthritis-symptom.com/Rheumatoid-arthritis-symptoms/#ixzz2bulfj0Jz
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Osteoarthritis of the Foot

by Rusty Ford

There are more than 100 different types of arthritis. But when most people talk about arthritis, they are usually referring to the most common form, osteoarthritis ("osteo" means bone). Osteoarthritis develops as we age and is often called "wear-and-tear" arthritis. Over the years, the thin covering (cartilage) on the ends of bones becomes worn and frayed. This results in inflammation, swelling, and pain in the joint.

Read more: http://www.arthritis-symptom.com/Osteoarthritis-Symptoms/osteoarthritis-foot.htm#ixzz2bsvdokAj
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Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Arthritis of the knee is most often osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease where cartilage in the joint gradually wears away. In rheumatoid arthritis, which can also affect the knees, the joint becomes inflamed and cartilage may be destroyed. Arthritis not only affects joints, it may also affect supporting structures such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Read more: http://www.arthritis-symptom.com/Osteoarthritis-Symptoms/osteoarthritis-knee.htm#ixzz2bsvMZqiL
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Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Like other joints that carry your weight, your hips may be at risk for "wear and tear" arthritis (osteoarthritis), the most common form of the disease. The smooth and glistening covering (articular cartilage) on the ends of your bones that helps your hip joint glide may wear thin. Your first sign may be a bit of discomfort and stiffness in your groin, buttock or thigh when you wake up in the morning. The pain flares when you’re active and gets better when you rest.
If you don’t get treatment for osteoarthritis of the hip, the condition keeps getting worse until resting no longer relieves your pain. The hip joint gets stiff and inflamed. Bone spurs might build up at the edges of the joint. When the cartilage wears away completely, bones rub directly against each other. This makes it very painful for you to move. You may lose the ability to rotate, flex or extend your hip. If you become less active to avoid the pain the muscles controlling your joint get weak, and you may start to limp.

Read more: http://www.arthritis-symptom.com/Osteoarthritis-Symptoms/osteoarthritis-hip.htm#ixzz2bsvAhKgJ
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Osteoarthritis Medications

Patients with mild OA may be treated only with pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or propoxyphene (Darvon). Most patients with OA, however, are given nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. These include compounds such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), ketoprofen (Orudis), and Ibuprofen (Ansaid). The NSAIDs have the advantage of relieving inflammation as well as pain. They also have potentially dangerous side effects, including stomach ulcers, sensitivity to sun exposure, kidney disturbances, and nervousness, depression or death.

Read more: http://www.arthritis-symptom.com/Osteoarthritis-Symptoms/osteoarthritis-medications.htm#ixzz2bsv00bAT
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Osteoarthritis Prevention

Osteoarthritis results from deterioration or loss of the cartilage that acts as a protective cushion between bones, particularly in weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips. While it is not totally preventable there are three things you can do to limit your chances and mostly limit the severity if you do develop it.

Osteoarthritis Causes

For most people, the cause of osteoarthritis is unknown, but metabolic, genetic, chemical, and mechanical factors play a role in its development. It is associated with the aging process and is the most common form of arthritis.
It may first appear without symptoms between 30 and 40 years of age and is present in almost everyone by the age of 70. Symptoms generally appear in middle age. Before the age of 55 it occurs equally in both sexes. However, after 55 the incidence is higher in women.

Read more: http://www.arthritis-symptom.com/Osteoarthritis-Symptoms/osteoarthritis-causes.htm
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Osteoarthritis Diagnosis

Physical exam can show limited range of motion, grating of a joint with motion, joint swelling, and tenderness.
X-ray of affected joints will show loss of the joint space, and in advanced cases, wearing down of the ends of the bone and bone spurs.

Physical exam used in Osteoarthritis Diagnosis

The two most important diagnostic clues in the patient's history are the pattern of joint involvement and the presence or absence of fever, rash, or other symptoms outside the joints. As part of the physical examination, the doctor will touch and move the patient's joint to evaluate swelling, limitations on the range of motion, pain on movement, and crepitus (a cracking or grinding sound heard during joint movement).

Read more: http://www.arthritis-symptom.com/Osteoarthritis-Symptoms/osteoarthritis-diagnosis.htm#ixzz2bsuGzYbS
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Osteoarthritis Treatments

The goals of treatment are to relieve pain, maintain or improve joint mobility, increase the strength of the joints, and minimize the disabling affects of the disease. The specific treatment depends upon the affected joint(s).
Treatment of Osteoarthritis patients is tailored to the needs of each individual. Patients vary widely in the location of the joints involved, the rate of progression, the severity of symptoms, the degree of disability, and responses to specific forms of treatment. Most treatment programs include several forms of therapy.

Read more: http://www.arthritis-symptom.com/Osteoarthritis-Symptoms/osteoarthritis-treatments.htm#ixzz2bsu2wSFi
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Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Osteoarthritis is a disease that is caused by normal wear and tear on joints as well as trauma to a joint or joints. As time goes on constant use of a joint causes wear on the cartilage inside the joint. The purpose of the cartilage inside the joint is to provide shock absorption and to provide a smooth surface for the joint to move on. As the osteoarthritis causes the cartilage to brake down the surface inside the joints becomes rough which causes bone damage and inflammation. Inflammation causes cartilage and bone are further damaged as the bones rub together.

Read more: http://www.arthritis-symptom.com/Osteoarthritis-Symptoms/index.htm#ixzz2bsthzEvk
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