Rheumatoid arthritis, also commonly known as RA, is one of the most severe forms of arthritis an individual can have. About 1.3 million people in the United States suffer from this autoimmune disease that attacks one’s joints. The immune system will mistakenly attack normal cells within the body which can lead to inflammation in certain areas. RA is a chronic long term disease that cause edema, stiffness, pain and limited function of many joints. Many patient who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis state that their symptoms become worse in the morning or very late in the evening. RA may be hard to detect in many patients because of its subtle symptoms. Because many diseases behave like RA, it is hard to tell if achy joints and stiffness is a reliable symptom for this disease. Weakness, low grade fevers, loss of appetite are some of the first symptoms patients’ experience. Some other major signs and symptoms to look for are dryness of the eyes, mouth, nose and throat, stiff, locked joints particularly in the knees and elbows, and numbness or tingling in the hands. Although RA is a progressive disease that cannot be cured it is best that patients begin their treatment during the early stages; otherwise it can lead to permanent damage of the bones, joints, and cartilage. There are many treatment forms that are used in treating this disease. Disease modifying antirhumatic drugs such as Methotrexate and anti-inflammatories such as Mobic, are two classes of drugs that are highly effective for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs are a class of medication commonly used to slow down the progression of the disease. DMARDs work by altering the genetic makeup and suppressing the body’s immune system. Dependi... ... middle of paper ... ... their mediation regimen closely. Many elderly patients are taking several drugs that can reduce the efficacy and increase the toxicity of one another. In order to avoid complications it is important to always educate the patients on proper usage, side effects and specific drug interactions. If a patient misses a dose they should never double up. This could increase their risk for possible overdose. Certain OTC drugs and herbal supplements can have adverse reactions and reduce the efficacy of these drugs. Patients should be advised to that alcohol or tobacco consumption may alter the absorption of the medication and should be avoided. Lab work should be completed routinely to avoid renal and liver toxicity when taking these two classes of drugs. If a patient is confused or thinking of altering their medication regimen the nurse and/or physician should be informed
Osteoarthritis can be known as or sometimes called degenerative joint disease. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease that affects not only the old and sick, although 55 and older are most common to be affected, people of all ages may receive osteoarthritis (OA). Approximately 27 million Americans are sharing the same common chronic conditions of the joints.
Polypharmacy among the elderly is a growing concern in U.S. healthcare system. Elderly who have comorbities and take multiple medications are at a higher risk for potential adverse drug reactions. Elderly who take over-the-counter medications, herbs, and supplements without consulting their physician are at risk for adverse reactions associated with polypharmacy. Polypharmacy can result from patients having multiple prescribers and pharmacies, and patients who continue to take medications which have been discontinued by the physician. There is a great need for nursing interventions regarding polypharmacy, including medication reviews also known as “brown bag”. As nurses obtain history data and conduct a patient assessment, it is essential to review the patients’ medications and ask open-ended questions regarding all types of medications in which the patient is taking. In addition, the patient assessment is also an opportunity for the nurse to inquire about any adverse reactions the patient may be experiencing resulting from medications. Nurses are in a unique position to provide early detection and intervention for potentially inappropriate medications and its associated adverse drug reactions.
Rheumatoid arthritis affects around 400,000 individuals within the UK, it is the most relentless chronic form of arthritis, and for adults it is the second most common form in patients (1). “RA is more prevalent among women than men, and usually develops in the fourth to fifth decades of life” (A). Rheumatoid arthritis is severe as it is a form of autoimmune disease, this is where the body’s immune system attacks and damages working tissue, due to the failure to recognise the difference between foreign cell and normal cells. For example it damages the synovial membrane surrounding the knee, and bone erosion begins. This damage to the working tissue triggers an inflammatory response causing fluid to build around the knee (2). However it can happen in any joint, this is why it’s such a large problem as you simply can’t inhibit the effects of the immune system, as it would leave you extremely vulnerable to more life threatening diseases. If effective treatment isn’t applied it could be disabling to patients, the inflammation causes pain, stiffness, muscle ache, rheumatoid nodules (lumps of tissue) and tiredness (3).
The most common musculoskeletal disorder and a major cause of disability in people over 65 years is osteoarthritis (OA) (Felson DT et al, 1987) (1). According to World Health Organization (WHO) report, OA of knee is more likely to become the fourth most important cause of disability in women, and the eighth most important cause in men (Murray CJL, Lopez AD, 1997)(2) . Primary prevention of knee OA has become a major health care aim and a clear understanding of the risk factors is required to design preventive strategies. Many investigations reported obesity, previous history of knee injury, sedentary life style, hand OA (Heberden’s nodes), and a familial history of the disease are major risk factors for OA of knee (Cyrus Cooper et al, 2000) (3). In spite of recent advancements the causes and pathogenesis of knee OA remains largely unknown (A Teichtahl, A Wluka, F M Cicuttini, 2003) (4) but however there is increasing research interest in the contribution of biomechanical variables on progression and management of the disease (Andriacchi TP, 1991) (5).
Rheumatoid arthritis is not curable. Medications will be recommended to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, slow the progression of RA, and save joints and tissues from permanent damage (Rheumatoid Arthritis, 2017). The most common medications are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD), e.t.c. When having RA, it is important to exercise regularly, apply heat or cold to affected areas, relax, and eat healthy. Physical therapy is usually part of treatment for RA. The goal is to stimulate the bones, muscles, and joints to give them strength and flexibility (Physical Therapy for RA, n.d.). Foods that have lots of omega-3 (fish, chia seeds, flax seeds, and walnuts), high antioxidants like vitamin A, E, and C (berries, dark chocolate, spinach, kidney beans, pecans, and artichokes), and lots of fiber can help reduce inflammation (Foods that fight RA inflammation,
Polypharmacy among the elderly is a growing concern in U.S. healthcare system. Patients who have comorbities and take multiple medications are at a higher risk for potential adverse drug reactions. There is a great need for nursing interventions in conducting a patient medication review also known as “brown bag”. As nurses obtain history data from patients at a provider visit, the nurse should ask “what medications are you taking?” and the answer needs to include over-the-counter medications as well. If the response does not include any medications other than prescribed meds, it is incumbent upon the nursing professionals to question the patient further to ensure that no over-the-counter medications or supplements are being consumed. This is also an opportunity for the nurse to question about any adverse reactions the patient may be experiencing resulting from medications. Polypharmacy can result from patients having multiple prescribers and pharmacies, and patients continuing to take medications that have been discontinued by the physician. Nurses are in a unique position to provide early detection and intervention for potentially inappropriate medications and its associated adverse drug reactions.
Imagine being diagnosed with a condition that flares in and out of control repeatedly every year. Your doctor has told you that the cause could be genetic, or it could be directly related to previous toxins or illnesses you may have been exposed to, leaving you frustrated and looking for answers. None of your family members have ever had any trouble with their joints, but yours have been so painful and tender lately that even getting out of bed in the morning seems like a chore. Turns out, you have an autoimmune disease that affects about 1.3 million people in our country every year. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic rheumatic disease that directly attacks your body’s joints and their surrounding tissues, causing pain, inflammation, and damage.
...and maintaining the body’s ability to fight disease is critical. Medication therapy for autoimmune disease can include dugs such as corticosteroids. Theses drugs have to be used with caution because they may damage bone marrow. Fish oil and antioxidant supplementation has been shown to help anti-inflammatory intervention and help suppress autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus.
The disease can either be active or in remission depending on whether the tissues are inflamed or not. There are no systems when Rheumatoid Arthritis is in remission. When it becomes active again, it is called a flare and all the symptoms come back. The main symptoms are: fatigue, loss of appetite, fever, aches in the muscles and joints, and stiffness. The stiffness usually occurs in the morning or after resting for a long time. The joints can also go red, swell and be painful because the joint lining is inflamed which causes extra synovial fluid to be produced and the joint lining tissue to get thicker. The early symptoms usually are in small joints of the hands and wrists, and they are pain and stiffness...
The prognosis for patients diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis is very good. Today’s technology and treatments help some patients live a healthy, normal life; they are able to work, enjoy social functions, exercise, and have a very physical life. But for others, RA can be very debilitating, and the progression of the disease gets worse even while maintaining all treatments prescribed by the doctor. Rheumatoid patients who maintain healthy lifestyles can manage their symptoms better.
Arthritis is of many types of which Rheumatoid or Osteoarthritis is the most common. It can be caused due to several factors such as misalignment, dehydration, protein deficiency, calcium deficiency or inflammation.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease – a disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the joints, connective tissues, muscles, tendons, and fibrous tissue. It is characterized by inflammation and destruction of bone and joints, causing pain, joint stiffness, and muscle weakness. It occurs in more than 1% of American and causes disability in millions (Lee, Hale, Hemingway, & Woolridge, 2012). As a wonder drug for RA is yet to be discovered, people with RA may also experience depression, a feeling of helplessness, and anxiety. Therefore, it is important to diagnose RA as soon as possible and to initiate treatment to slow disease progression so people can remain well and active as possible.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack itself. Since symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may come and go, they are often hard to diagnosis, thus, sufferers find themselves with a puzzle of mystery symptoms.
Arthritis is one of the most prevalent diseases, it is the leading cause of disability in the U.S (). Moreover, the susceptibility to arthritis enhances with age, approximately half the population that reaches 65 years of age has arthritis (). Essentially, arthritis refers to hindrance to the joint such as pain, swelling and reduced range of motion (). There are over 100 types of arthritis and various ways that it can be contracted, this includes previous injuries to a joint, over usage, genetics and lifestyle factors (). Consequently, due to its frequency and challenging outcome, many individuals who have arthritis face a reduced quality of life (). The constant pain endured not only diminishes physical capabilities, but can have substantial
Arthritis and related conditions have been considered as the third largest contributor to direct health care expenditure, affecting nearly 46 million people in the USA. More important, the economic and social burden of arthritis is expected to grow, as the number of people with arthritis is expected to reach 67 million in the USA by 2030. Among various arthritis conditions, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory arthritis worldwide. It is a chronic, progressive autoimmune disease characterized by cellular infiltration and proliferation of synovium, leading to progressive destruction of articular bone and cartilage. As RA tends to be progressive in nature, the current treatments, including conventional therapies and