Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis

Symptoms & Diagnoses of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that affects the joints. There is no cure. While this is a lifelong condition, patients do experience periods of remission, when there aren't any symptoms, as well as flare-ups, in which symptoms return....

How is Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosed?

Many medical conditions, including different osteoarthritis and other forms of arthritis, result in physical symptoms such as joint pain and inflammation similar to those seen in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To complicate early diagnosis,...

How to Tell If You Have Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is the second most common arthritis while degenerative arthritis is most common, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Because early treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has been shown to decrease the joint...

Common Diagnostic Tests for the Musculoskeletal System

Common diagnostic tests used to diagnose problems within the musculoskeletal system use blood and urine samples. Both can reveal levels of various minerals and other substances indicating disease or a musculoskeletal disorder. Levels of certain...

What Blood Tests Help Determine Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease caused by the immune system of the body attacking the lining of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic condition that can last a lifetime, causes inflammation of the joints that result in pain,...

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms in Children

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in children (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) can exist for years before a diagnosis is made. Most people believe arthritis only occurs with aging. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in children can be mild or severe,...

Krill Oil & Inflammation

Krill oil is processed from small, shrimp-like crustaceans found in the Antarctic Ocean. The cell membranes of krill contain a high amount of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, DHA, are...

Abnormal Lab Values Seen in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can be symptomatic for a few months or a lifetime, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Another form of rheumatoid arthritis has occasional...

How Do I Know If My Pain in the Knee Is Arthritis?

Knee pain can be caused by many things. You can have an injury to the tendons, ligaments or muscles surrounding the knee. Your pain can also be due to a form of arthritis. The only way to tell is to see your doctor for a proper diagnosis. Tests...

Blood Tests for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Arthritis is a general term that describes over 100 conditions. If you think you have arthritis it is important to see your doctor to be properly diagnosed. Different types of arthritis call for different treatment programs. Two of the more common...

Symptoms of Lupus Vs. Rheumatoid Arthritis

Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are both autoimmune disorders. Rheumatoid arthritis is often associated with the joints, especially the hands and fingers. There are several different types of lupus. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most...

Serum Potassium Deficiency and Rheumatoid Arthritis

According to the Arthritis Foundation, 1.3 million Americans are estimated to be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. For many patients with rheumatoid arthritis, serum potassium levels fall below those of healthy adults and may play a role in the...

Is Yoga or Pilates Okay for People With Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Pilates and yoga have become popular additions to many people's fitness plans and may be especially beneficial for those diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid Arthritis, also called RA, is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic...

5 Things You Need to Know About Rheumatoid Arthritis

If you experience inflammation of your joints, you may have rheumatoid arthritis, which is the chronic inflammation of joints as a result of an autoimmune disease. It may occur when your own body's tissues attack your immune system and cause...

First Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joints. This inflammation results in pain, stiffness, swelling and eventually can cause the destruction of joint cartilage. According to Dr. Alan Matsumato...

Exercises for Rheumatoid Arthritis

In 2007, about 1.5 million Americans were suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, states the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This auto-immune condition causes joint inflammation, pain, stiffness and damage. It is more likely to affect...

What Are the Causes of Swollen Legs & Ankles?

Swelling of the legs and ankle, or peripheral edema, is the result of a sudden injury or an underlying medical condition such as kidney, liver or heart disease. Gravity also naturally pulls fluids to the lower extremities, thus standing or...

Vitamin D3 & Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a common form of inflammatory joint disease characterized by swelling of the joints, pain, stiffness and limited range of motion. The main source of vitamin D3 is from sunlight, but most North Americans do not get enough...

Causes of Joint Aches & Fatigue

Joint aches and fatigue can be caused by a variety of common health related conditions. According to Mayoclinic.com, joint aches and fatigue can be caused by chronic fatigue syndrome. Other possible causes of joint aches and fatigue include...

Benefits of a Sea Salt Bath

Growing numbers of people are researching therapeutic baths. According to the Saltworks company, bathing in Dead Sea salt from Israel may be particularly beneficial, because it contains an array of minerals that include potassium which helps to...

Rheumatoid Arthritis & Vitamin D Deficiency

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that causes the body's own immune system to attack the joints, particularly those in the fingers, wrists, elbows, feet, ankles and knees. This results in inflammation that leads to symptoms such as swelling, pain...

Rheumatoid Arthritis Signs & Symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis varies in the way it presents in patients. For some, the onset is gradual, while others may experience high levels of pain from the beginning. The Arthritis Foundation estimates that 1.3 million Americans suffer from this...

The Effects of Lupus Disease

Lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease, is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases occur when the body's immune cells mistakenly attack the healthy tissues of the body. Although lupus affects both men and women, the Lupus Foundation of American...

Uses of Borage Oil

Borage oil is a source of gamma-linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid and precursor of prostaglandins. According to Brigham and Women's Hospital, prostaglandins are found naturally in all bodily tissues, act as local hormones, and have...

A Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis affects people in different ways. Some have only mild symptoms, while others become disabled. Early diagnosis is important, because starting treatment in the early stages of the disease may help delay or prevent disability....