World Arthritis Day is commemorated every year on October 12 with the mission to raise awareness of arthritis, a disease that affects millions of people worldwide. World Arthritis Day has the following objectives: to raise awareness of arthritis in the medical community, among the population and the general public. To publicly influence the symptoms and treatments to alleviate arthritis. Finally it is also charged with ensuring that all arthritis sufferers are aware of the network of help available to them.
Top Doctors spoke with arthritis specialist Dr. José Miguel Senabre Gallego, who helped put together the following article. First of all, the doctor emphasizes the importance of having healthy joints for family, social and working life, since their deterioration has a very negative influence on people’s quality of life.
A definition of arthritis
The doctor offers the following definition of arthritis: “arthritis means inflammation of the joints. This inflammation can have an autoimmune origin, as in rheumatoid arthritis, or it can be caused by uric acid crystals (gout) or calcium crystals (pseudogout), or even be the result of an infection (septic arthritis) or trauma (traumatic arthritis). Generally, when we speak of arthritis, we refer to rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis should not be confused with osteoarthritis, in which pain is caused by the deterioration of the articular cartilage, often associated with age and use.
What are the symptoms of arthritis?
It is important to know the symptoms of a disease, for this Dr. Senabre indicates that the symptoms of arthritis can cause pain, swelling and joint stiffness (difficulty in moving the joint). It can also affect different joints depending on the type of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis typically affects the joints of the hands and feet. The different types of arthritis can affect 1 in 6 people and can appear at any age, even in children.
Visiting a specialist
When should you visit your doctor? Arthritis has different types, which is why Dr. Senabre recommends that: “the diagnosis must be made correctly. On the other hand, it is necessary to start treatment as soon as possible to reduce the damage caused to the joint by inflammation. In addition, some types of arthritis can cause damage to other organs such as the heart, kidneys and lungs, so prompt diagnosis is critical. If you think you may have arthritis, you should consult an experienced physician. Your family doctor can give you guidance and, if he or she suspects arthritis, will refer you to a rheumatologist, who is the specialist in charge of arthritis and related diseases, to confirm or rule out the diagnosis.”
The importance of a good diagnosis
As for diagnostic tests, Dr. Senabre assures that there is no specific test to diagnose arthritis. The doctor will ask you a series of questions about the onset and course of pain, swelling and stiffness, as well as triggering or aggravating factors. He or she may ask about other symptoms that may be associated, such as redness or peeling of the skin. With this information and the physical examination, the physician can now suspect arthritis and request some complementary tests to support the diagnosis. Blood tests may show inflammation and some rheumatic markers may be positive depending on the type of arthritis. It is important to know that an altered blood test alone is not enough to confirm or rule out arthritis. For example, having positive rheumatoid factor in the CBC is not always related to arthritis, and can even occur in healthy people and, on the other hand, many types of arthritis have negative rheumatoid factor. Other imaging tests such as X-ray or ultrasound help to confirm the presence of inflammation in the joint.
Treatments depending on the type of arthritis
The treatment of arthritis will depend on the type of arthritis the patient suffers, which is why the doctor indicates that: “rheumatoid arthritis is treated with corticosteroids and antirheumatic drugs, such as methotrexate and leflunomide. When these treatments fail, other “targeted therapies” that act on the immune system by reducing its response are used. These include anti-TNF antibodies, abatacept, tocilizumab, rituximab or the new JAK inhibitors tofacitinib and baricitinib. In the case of psoriatic arthritis, ustekinumab, secukinumab and apremilast are also part of the therapeutic arsenal. These highly effective drugs must be prescribed by the specialist under close supervision to minimize the risk of side effects, such as increased risk of infections or alterations in blood tests”.
Prevention of arthritis
Finally, Dr. Senabre offers a series of tips to effectively prevent arthritis: “although the cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, there are hereditary and hormonal factors and external agents, such as some microorganisms, that have been related to its development. There is also a relationship between habitual tobacco consumption and rheumatoid arthritis, so this is another compelling reason not to smoke. Although not yet fully proven, there are studies that suggest that periodontitis (inflammation of the gums) could be related to the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Proper oral hygiene is always recommended. Obesity also seems to worsen arthritis. Fatty tissue secretes proteins that promote inflammation, drugs work worse in obese patients, and joints suffer from weight overload. Therefore, a healthy and balanced diet, accompanied by regular moderate exercise, is highly recommended”.