It starts in the fingers or toes. Smokers and women are more likely to be affected
Rheumatism ... more than just joint pain
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis often experience pain at night. D.A.
The term rheumatism includes many different diseases, and actually means pain in the locomotor system. In general, rheumatism can be divided into inflammatory and non-inflammatory diseases. Examples of rheumatic diseases are disorders of the perception of pain, such as fibromyalgia syndrome. Gout or osteoporosis is also included in the forms of rheumatism.
"Rheumatology often means rheumatoid arthritis, which usually begins in the fingers or toes, and then all joints can be affected," said the German rheumatologist, Professor Stefan Schiff.
different places
While a member of the board of directors of the German Society of Rheumatology, Professor Hans Martin Lorenz, said, “Rheumatic diseases do not occur in the joints only, but in different places, such as vessels, skin, eyes, brain, intestine and muscles. Hair loss may also be a symptom of a rheumatic disease. ”
Lorenz explained that "rheumatoid arthritis patients often experience pain at night, with a feeling of stiffness and inability to move in the morning, which improves throughout the day and with movement."
Osteoarthritis
Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis is not an inflammatory disease, as the joints wear out and patients here do not feel any pain at night, but when they wake up or after a long journey.
Doctors suggest that what helps here is muscle training to relax the joints. There are also medicinal treatments, depending on the severity of the arthritis, as well as different surgical options.
Professor Lorenz indicated that osteoarthritis patients often have problems in wet and cold weather, so warmth is recommended for such cases, but arthritis is not related to the weather, and here cold helps, because the joints are warm.
For his part, internal medicine doctor, German Edmund Edelman, said that “rheumatoid arthritis can be infected periodically and every year, and that there is a genetic predisposition for some cases, but it is not a genetic disease. Smokers and women are more likely to be infected.
The good news is that rheumatoid arthritis can be treated with medication, knowing that early treatment is important. Cortisone is used in some diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, because it can treat inflammation quickly and effectively, but it can only be used for a short time, due to some side effects.
The German Heart Foundation has also warned that rheumatism may harm the heart and blood vessels as well, not just the joints, as it may lead to infections in the walls of blood vessels and hardening of the arteries, which raises the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Therefore, people with rheumatic infections, such as rheumatoid arthritis, should undergo regular heart checks, and a cardiologist should be consulted urgently if they experience chest pain or shortness of breath when exerting an effort.
Treatments
In addition to medication, exercise is essential to treat many forms of rheumatism, such as swimming, running and cycling.
And sometimes psychotherapy can be included in the treatment program for rheumatism.
Hans Lorenz:
• "Rheumatic diseases may occur in the vessels, skin, eyes, brain, intestines and muscles."
Edmund Edelman:
• "Rheumatoid arthritis can be treated with medication, knowing that early treatment is important."