When the immune system goes haywire, there is no way to designate any particular areas of the body as off-limits. Antibodies begin attacking the synovium of the joints when the immune system is stimulated in a particular way, leading to slow degeneration and loss of cartilage in the joints as well. The condition identified here is called rheumatoid arthritis.
If you see anyone with severe disfigurement in the hands, it’s probably because of rheumatoid arthritis. It is characterized by severe joint dislocation and misalignment, which is especially troublesome in the fingers. This is because the ligaments that hold the bone together have become weaker as a result of the loss of cartilage. When ligaments and tendons weaken significantly, they can no longer keep the joint in its proper position.
A lot of the things we do every day rely on our hands and fingers, and our ability to use them deftly is essential. The presence of specific hand symptoms may be an early warning sign of more serious health issues. However, for someone whose rheumatoid arthritis is particularly bad in their hands, life can become very difficult in all spheres. Before diving into the root causes of rheumatoid arthritis, let’s take a look at the question of how it develops.
Is It In The Genes?
The vast majority of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers are stuck in their condition because they were predestined to develop the disease. However, it would be too simplistic to say that rheumatoid arthritis is purely genetic in this instance. Although this is sometimes the case, a more accurate explanation is that some people are simply predisposed to having a particular set of genes that tend to interact in predictable ways with one another. One of the factors in determining what causes rheumatoid arthritis is the order in which certain genes are expressed.
Eye and mouth dryness are hallmark symptoms of Sjogren’s syndrome. Getting a certain virus or bacteria after having this condition can also lead to rheumatoid arthritis. Due to preexisting susceptibility, a person with previously mild joint pain may suddenly develop severe rheumatoid arthritis.
Similarly, your prenatal environment sets the stage for whether or not you will develop rheumatoid arthritis. The concept of gender has become more nuanced than it once was, and we run the risk of offending some readers if we try to simplify it here for the sake of explanation. Indeed, this is the case where it is necessary to do so. Rheumatoid arthritis affects women three times more frequently than men, and this is typically due to hormonal imbalances. This is why estrogen and progesterone levels drop significantly during and after menopause. All this makes it a particularly vulnerable time for women to develop rheumatoid arthritis.
Can Lifestyle Be Blamed?
It has been discussed how rheumatoid arthritis develops in a person’s body. Lifestyle factors, according to medical experts, are also crucial. The discomfort and immobility associated with rheumatoid arthritis can be exacerbated by obesity, smoking, and generally poor health. They can play a role even before the onset of arthritis, as they weaken the immune system and increase the risk of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. That being said, there are strategies available to help smokers kick the habit for good.
You may also benefit from losing weight in order to treat your rheumatoid arthritis; even if you are unable to make significant dietary changes, you may discover that engaging in vigorous exercise for just an hour twice or thrice weekly helps you to lose weight. How much relief from rheumatoid arthritis pain and stiffness can we expect to see? That is highly variable and subject to the individual’s physiology.
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