Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that manifests itself through inflammation of the joints and their progressive deterioration. On World Arthritis Day it is worth noting that this disease, which according to the association somospacientes affects 120 million people in Europe, and more than 250,000 in Spain alone, can be suffered at any age. As it is a disease with no cure to date, early diagnosis is very important to stop the symptoms and the deterioration of the joints that can lead to functional disability.
Arthritis, the wear and tear of the joints
Arthritis causes an aggression against the synovial tissue, which is responsible for reducing the friction between bones and the wear and tear of cartilage in the joints. As the synovial tissue deteriorates, the cartilage also wears away and the bones come into contact, causing pain and inflammation in the joints, leading to great difficulty in moving the joints.
It usually affects small and medium-sized joints to a greater degree, such as hands, feet, knees, ankles, shoulders and elbows. The main symptoms of arthritis are pain, numbness and stiffness in the affected joints, difficulty in moving the joints and redness of the skin around the joints.
Early diagnosis is essential for arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis currently has no definitive cure, but if the disease is detected early, much of its progression and symptoms can be halted. It is important to note that a significant proportion of those affected by arthritis develop the disease between the ages of 35 and 50, and women are at greater risk than men.
As it is a systemic disease, i.e. it affects several organs, it can reach other parts of the body such as the skin, eyes, nervous system, blood, lungs or heart, which makes the correct diagnosis and access to treatment to curb the disease even more urgent.
Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis
Scientific research is moving in the direction of determining the causes of arthritis in order to develop a better form of prevention and treatment.
On October 12, World Arthritis Day, rheumatologists and traumatologists, as well as patient and family associations are calling for awareness and information about this disease and how to detect it as soon as possible, as well as help and support for patients and families.