Rheumatoid arthritis is a crippling disease that affects young and old alike. Although there is no cure for this autoimmune disorder, there are a variety of treatment options, ranging from medication, to natural remedies, to lifestyle changes. Read on to learn more about rheumatoid arthritis, including symptoms, treatment options, and more.

As with many chronic illnesses, early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is critical when it comes to reducing both short and long-term effects. Of course, in order to detect RA, people must first understand the symptoms so that they when to consult a doctor if they experience any of them. It is necessary to see a doctor as soon as possible to avoid deformity of joints, painful muscles, and other fairly severe effects. The early symptoms of RA start with stiffness of joints in morning. This stiffness most commonly starts with small joints in the feet, wrist, hands and shoulders, and both sides of the body are affected. When these symptoms are noticed, it is important to immediately consult a doctor for proper diagnosis. Fortunately, if it was indeed diagnosed at an early stage, this disease is very manageable.

When joints become stiff they become inflamed, swollen and painful. This often leads to fever, flu, lack of appetite, and tiredness. Because these are symptoms common for many less severe illnesses (such as the normal flu), people typically do not think of rheumatoid arthritis. Of course, this lack of awareness delays diagnosis and treatment, thus making the disease destructive to a person's health. As more time passes, the inflammation and pain become worse, and the joints and the skin around the joints appears red. The symptoms can also spread to other body parts such as the knees, jaws and hips. Further, these symptoms are often accompanied by small bumps under the skin of the joints, called rheumatoid nodules.

As rheumatoid arthritis continues to go untreated, the cartilage around the joints deteriorates and becomes deformed, affecting the movement of body. There are many surgical methods that can be used, however, enabling the patient to live a fairly healthy life. Apart from the joints, there are other body parts that are affected by this disease as well. Blood vessels and connective tissues are sometimes affected causing inflammation in the lungs and heart, resulting in several respiratory diseases. This serves as yet, another reason why early diagnosis is so essential.

The effects mentioned above primary appear when the disease is active, and disappear when the disease is inactive. The body needs to be monitored regularly in order to treat the disease before it causes more harm. Immediate treatment (or at least a visit to a doctor) is recommended for people suffering from flu-like symptoms, stiffness of joints, and/or prolonged tiredness. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that requires careful attention and monitoring to ensure effects are as manageable and short-lived as possible.