What is gout?
Gout is a common and painful arthritis form. It produces swelling, redness, heat and joint rigidity. Gout occurs when uric acid accumulates in the blood. This happens if the body produces too much acid or this is not properly eliminated, or if too many foods are consumed with purines, such as liver and dry legumes. The pseudogota has similar symptoms and sometimes it is confused with gout. However, it is caused by calcium phosphate and not due to uric acid.
Frequently, the drop attacks the big finger at first. You can also attack the ankles, heels, knees, wrists, fingers and elbows.
A person has more chances of having drop if:
- is male
- has a family history of gout
- consume alcohol
At the beginning, the drop crises usually improve in a few days. Finally, they become more durable and occur more frequently. The accumulation of uric acid can lead to kidney stones. In case of not being treated, the drop can result in permanent damage in joints and kidneys. It is possible to treat the disease with medicines.
Rheumatoid arthritis
What is it?
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic and degenerative disease that is characterized by causing inflammation in the synovial membrane (membrane that feeds, protects and covers the cartilages) of the joints.
The inflammation of this membrane is responsible for pain, from the clearly visible swelling and the sensation of rigidity that patients can feel in the mornings. The persistence of the inflammation of the synovial membrane causes the bone to damage and small erosions appear.
The disease affects more virulence to joints than others, and there are some that never alterate. Thus, the most affected are the wrists, fingers of the hands and feet, elbows, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles. This disease mainly affects women and usually appears around 40 and 45 years. However, children and the elderly may also suffer from it.
Causes
The cause of the appearance of this disease is unknown. Infectious agents such as bacteria or viruses have been studied and, although suggestive data have been found in some cases, there is still no evidence to confirm their involvement. Specialists believe that it can have a genetic origin since the immune system itself attacks the joints because it does not recognize them as their own and therefore they become inflamed. Likewise, it is believed that certain proteins that are transmitted in a hereditary manner could predispose to the disease.
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
The main symptom of this disease is the inflammation that is appreciable at first glance. Sometimes the spill of synovial fluid may occur. The inflammation of the affected joints causes pain in the individual who suffers from them. Likewise, hard bullying (rheumatoid nodules) appear in the friction areas of the skin like the elbows, the back of the fingers of the hands and feet. They can also be located inside the organism. Over time, a deformity occurs due to the progressive deterioration of the affected joints.
It often causes skin dryness and mucous membranes. This causes an inflammation and subsequent atrophy of the glands that manufacture tears, saliva, digestive juices or vaginal flux (Sjogren syndrome). Articular rigidity is another symptoms of pathology. It usually appears in the morning and is progressively disappearing as the patient exerts his daily activity.
It can also produce some fever and, sometimes, an inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis), which causes injuries from nerves or sores on the legs (ulcers). The inflammation of the membranes that envelop the lungs (pleuresy) or the heart envelope (pericarditis), or the inflammation and the scars of the lungs can produce chest pain, difficulty breathing and an abnormal cardiac function.
Diagnostics
Because the appearance of the symptoms of this disease is not very clear during its inception, early diagnosis may be difficult. However, it is very important that it is diagnosed soon since it depends on the evolution of pathology. Therefore, when it is suspected that this pathology may suffer is important to go to a rheumatologist that determines what is the most effective treatment. When rheumatoid arthritis evolves, radiographs detect erosion in the joints. Likewise, blood tests detect the presence of a characteristic antibody of the disease.
Treatments
The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis encompasses two types of drugs: those used to relieve pain day by day (anti-inflammatories and corticosteroids), and those that serve to modify long-term disease. The latter can be effective weeks and, even months after treatment. They are not effective in 100 percent of the patients, according to the Spanish Society of Rheumatology, so usually the doctor prescribes several sequentially until finding the most effective and better tolerated.
Other data
The life of a person with rheumatoid arthritis has to adapt to her illness. Thus, you have to avoid an agitated life, sudden movements, it is advisable to sleep an average of 10 hours and avoid those work that requires an intense physical exercise. During the workday, you have to maintain a straight position in the seat and avoid staying with your neck or back bent for a long time. Likewise, during rest it is convenient to maintain an adequate posture, avoid bending the joints and keeping the arms and legs stretched.
The footwear has to be elastic, firm and skin. The heel should be held, the wide tip and the instep high enough so that shozies occur. Obesity can cause overweight on the joints, therefore, you have to try to carry a healthy and balanced diet and avoid gaining weight.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a frequent disease since one out of ten people suffer it (between 130,000 and 400,000 in Spain). This disease is more frequently between women and not necessarily old, although men can also suffer from them.
