Read here how to take a Rheumatoid Arthritis test, and about the symptoms and signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disorder which affects body joints. It mostly affects small joints of the body including ankles, feet, elbow, figures and wrists. This makes the joints protecting cartilage to breakdown hence preventing smooth movement.
Since cartilage absorbs shocks between the joints during movements, if affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis it makes the person to experience severe pain, stiffness and inflammation.
This is a very serious and dangerous disease which if not identified and treated early can lead to permanent joints deformation. Therefore you should take a Rheumatoid Arthritis test, if you a re in any doubt.
· Age
The disease is more venerable to order people between the ages of 40 to 60. It can also affect children but in rare case.
· Gender
Woman make up to 70% of the population suffering from the disease. Men are mostly affected but if attacked, it is more severe and difficult to treat.
· Presence of Other Diseases in the Body
People with other forms of autoimmune diseases like Vitiligo, Autoimmune Thyroiditis and type 1 diabetes are more venerable to Rheumatoid Arthritis.
· Smoking
Cigarette smoking may increase the chances of Rheumatoid Arthritis infection.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disorder which affects body joints. It mostly affects small joints of the body including ankles, feet, elbow, figures and wrists. This makes the joints protecting cartilage to breakdown hence preventing smooth movement.
Since cartilage absorbs shocks between the joints during movements, if affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis it makes the person to experience severe pain, stiffness and inflammation.
This is a very serious and dangerous disease which if not identified and treated early can lead to permanent joints deformation. Therefore you should take a Rheumatoid Arthritis test, if you a re in any doubt.
What Factors Contribute to Rheumatoid Arthritis Infection?
The disease is more venerable to order people between the ages of 40 to 60. It can also affect children but in rare case.
· Gender
Woman make up to 70% of the population suffering from the disease. Men are mostly affected but if attacked, it is more severe and difficult to treat.
· Presence of Other Diseases in the Body
People with other forms of autoimmune diseases like Vitiligo, Autoimmune Thyroiditis and type 1 diabetes are more venerable to Rheumatoid Arthritis.
· Smoking
Cigarette smoking may increase the chances of Rheumatoid Arthritis infection.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Test
There is no single Rheumatoid Arthritis test hence making it difficult to diagnose, during its early stages of development. This is because its symptoms may defer among patients making it more difficult for the doctor to be 100% sure where the patient is suffering from.
The first step in the Rheumatoid Arthritis test, involves a meeting between the patient and the doctor. Here, the doctor tries to examine the joints for inflammation, the skin for rheumatoid nodules, review the history of the symptom, and examine tenderness, deformity and swelling.
The patient is supposed to visit the doctor severally from the time the doctor examination starts, for him to be certain what the patient is suffering from. This calls for a series of testes.
The first step in the Rheumatoid Arthritis test, involves a meeting between the patient and the doctor. Here, the doctor tries to examine the joints for inflammation, the skin for rheumatoid nodules, review the history of the symptom, and examine tenderness, deformity and swelling.
The patient is supposed to visit the doctor severally from the time the doctor examination starts, for him to be certain what the patient is suffering from. This calls for a series of testes.
The list of tests in a Rheumatoid Arthritis test
1) Blood test
Blood test is very significant as it also determines the source of the disease. There are four different types of blood test.
a. Erythrocite Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
This type of blood test determines the degree of inflammation in the body. Here, the level of inflammation is determined by the rate at which the blood flows downwards in the body. The faster the rate of blood flow downwards the higher the inflammation and vice versa. Blood flows quickly to the infected one than the healthy ones. The high the rate of blood flow, the unhealthy you are.
b. Rheumatoid Factor Test
This rheumatoid arthritis test determines whether or not anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies or rheumatoid factor is present in the body. These are abnormal antibodies that are identified in the rheumatoid arthritis patient blood. This abnormal antibody called Rheumatoid Factor can be in 80% of the patient suffering from this disorder. If the doctor examines the patient by the use of this method and the patient test negative to the disease, this patient is said to be having "seronegative rheumatoid arthritis." This is not a very reliable method as it only detects the presence of the disease on the severe level making it more difficult to treat.
c. C-Reactive Protein
This method is similar to Erythrocite Sedimentation Rate method and it is so useful for it detects irritation in the body. In those with rheumatoid arthritis, the presence of high C-reactive protein (CRP) indicates that the injury or inflammation levels in the body are so high.
d. Plasma Velocity Test
This is the most accurate of these to four. This is used to measure the blood plasma protein content in the body.
Blood testing method is considered to be the best of all testes conducted in the to the rheumatoid arthritis patients as the doctor will conduct a number of them hence increasing the chances of detecting the disorder. Blood tests also may determine the source of symptom.
Before any blood test is performed in your body, it is advisable to get information from your doctor on how to prepare for yourself. It is your duty to follow the instructions given.
2) Surgical Test Method
As the name suggests, this method involves the joint replacement (arthroplasty), joint lining removal (synovectomy) and tendon repair. The method is very useful as it helps to reduce pain, corrects deformities and restores joint mobility.
3) X-ray Method
This is rheumatoid arthritis test carried out in patients who have suffered from the disease for some time since the method may not demonstrate the presence of rheumatoid arthritis during early stages. This method is mostly used to monitor the progress of the disease in the body and the rate of joint damage. This method goes hand in hand with joints scanning. Here, the inflamed joints are demonstrated by the use of a radioactive substance. The method can also be used to determine the level of joint damage.
4) Arthrocentesis Method
In this method the doctor drains joint fluid from the joints by the use of a sterile needle and a syringe and carries fluid study in the laboratory. Through this method, the doctor is able to detect pain level and swelling.
Blood test is very significant as it also determines the source of the disease. There are four different types of blood test.
a. Erythrocite Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
This type of blood test determines the degree of inflammation in the body. Here, the level of inflammation is determined by the rate at which the blood flows downwards in the body. The faster the rate of blood flow downwards the higher the inflammation and vice versa. Blood flows quickly to the infected one than the healthy ones. The high the rate of blood flow, the unhealthy you are.
b. Rheumatoid Factor Test
This rheumatoid arthritis test determines whether or not anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies or rheumatoid factor is present in the body. These are abnormal antibodies that are identified in the rheumatoid arthritis patient blood. This abnormal antibody called Rheumatoid Factor can be in 80% of the patient suffering from this disorder. If the doctor examines the patient by the use of this method and the patient test negative to the disease, this patient is said to be having "seronegative rheumatoid arthritis." This is not a very reliable method as it only detects the presence of the disease on the severe level making it more difficult to treat.
c. C-Reactive Protein
This method is similar to Erythrocite Sedimentation Rate method and it is so useful for it detects irritation in the body. In those with rheumatoid arthritis, the presence of high C-reactive protein (CRP) indicates that the injury or inflammation levels in the body are so high.
d. Plasma Velocity Test
Blood testing method is considered to be the best of all testes conducted in the to the rheumatoid arthritis patients as the doctor will conduct a number of them hence increasing the chances of detecting the disorder. Blood tests also may determine the source of symptom.
Before any blood test is performed in your body, it is advisable to get information from your doctor on how to prepare for yourself. It is your duty to follow the instructions given.
2) Surgical Test Method
As the name suggests, this method involves the joint replacement (arthroplasty), joint lining removal (synovectomy) and tendon repair. The method is very useful as it helps to reduce pain, corrects deformities and restores joint mobility.
3) X-ray Method
This is rheumatoid arthritis test carried out in patients who have suffered from the disease for some time since the method may not demonstrate the presence of rheumatoid arthritis during early stages. This method is mostly used to monitor the progress of the disease in the body and the rate of joint damage. This method goes hand in hand with joints scanning. Here, the inflamed joints are demonstrated by the use of a radioactive substance. The method can also be used to determine the level of joint damage.
4) Arthrocentesis Method
In this method the doctor drains joint fluid from the joints by the use of a sterile needle and a syringe and carries fluid study in the laboratory. Through this method, the doctor is able to detect pain level and swelling.
Watch here how to test yourself for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments
Non-medical Treatments
This treatment involves joint exercises and Physiotherapy with hot wax. This Treatment alone is not adequate. It only serves as a complement to the medical treatment. People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are highly encouraged to seek medical treatment.
Medical Treatment
These treatments determine the stage of rheumatoid arthritis in the body. To start with, your doctor may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as Celebrex, methotrexate and mobicox.
When the disease gets severe, your doctor may prescribe a DMARDs or disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs. Drugs like Dehydrogenated analogue of cortisol (prednisone) are these days avoided for their many side effects.
Treatment avoids further joint destruction and reduces the chances of the patients from becoming handicapped. That is why it is so important for the disease to be checked at the right time.
This treatment involves joint exercises and Physiotherapy with hot wax. This Treatment alone is not adequate. It only serves as a complement to the medical treatment. People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are highly encouraged to seek medical treatment.
Medical Treatment
These treatments determine the stage of rheumatoid arthritis in the body. To start with, your doctor may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as Celebrex, methotrexate and mobicox.
When the disease gets severe, your doctor may prescribe a DMARDs or disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs. Drugs like Dehydrogenated analogue of cortisol (prednisone) are these days avoided for their many side effects.
Treatment avoids further joint destruction and reduces the chances of the patients from becoming handicapped. That is why it is so important for the disease to be checked at the right time.
Those suffering from the disease are advised to discuss with their doctors how they are progressing for them to be provided with the necessary treatment and information they need during treatment.