Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease. Around 1.3 crore Indians are suffering from it. Females are more prone to it than men.
What is Rheumatoid arthritis?
The disease affects your joints when your immune system attacks your cells.
Symptoms
- Joint pain and swelling
- Morning stiffness
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Deformities in joints
More than the treatment, we have myths and misconceptions about the disease that hamper our daily routine.
Let’s discuss some myths today
- Eating sour food aggravates Rheumatoid arthritis.
This myth has been running in all our families for decades. But it’s not at all true. No food is related to your joint inflammation.
- The disease is part of ageing.
No, Rheumatoid arthritis is not a part of your degenerative process. Most probably, it is found between the ages of 30-60. Young adults and children are also not spared from the disease.
- It affects only joints.
No, progressive disease can affect your lungs, heart, and eyes, along with your joints.
- Alternative medicines have a cure for Rheumatoid arthritis.
There is no cure for this disease. It can only be controlled with proper medication, exercise and lifestyle adaptations.
- Choose a sedentary lifestyle if you are detected with Rheumatoid.
This is a more significant mistake one can make. The disease remains quiet if you choose an active lifestyle over a sedentary one. Exercise helps to open your joints, brings muscle strength and protects you from joint stiffness.
- Painkillers and steroids are the only medicines for Rheumatoid.
There are disease-modifying medicines which can help to control your disease. You can use NSAIDs (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs) to manage your pain only as and when required.
- You can stop the medicine once you start feeling better.
The most considerable mistake patients with RA always make. With medicine, your disease is in control. If you skip it, the condition will reverse.
- Orthopaedic doctors can treat Rheumatoid.
No! Only a rheumatologist can treat your RA. So, once you confirm your symptoms or disease, please consult a Rheumatologist.
Conclusion
- Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease, and there is no cure.
- You can keep it in control with regular medicine and exercise.
- A rheumatologist is the best person to treat it.
- No, any alternative treatment can reduce your pain permanently.