Rheumatoid Arthiritis
Disease Term Paper:
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Qaini Abidi
Biology 106
Tracy Gray
March 11, 2013
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an auto immune disorder, which means body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. RA is a long-term disease that leads to inflammation of joints and surrounding tissues, also other organs. It could occur at any age, and mostly common in middle age (30-40 yrs.). Women are likely to get RA more than men. Infection, genes, hormone changes may be linked to the disease.
SYMPTOMS
RA affects joints on both sides of the body equally. Wrist, fingers, knees, feet, and ankles are most commonly affected. The disease starts by affecting a minor joint, but eventually starts affecting the all the joints. Joints may feel warm and tender in the morning for an hour and joint pain will be felt on the same joint on both sides. Over time, joints could become deformed, just means they could lose shape and figure of the joints. Chances are patients could be completely paralyzed. Dry mouth, chest pain, long breaths, sleep difficulties could all be symptoms of RA. Early diagnoses of the disease and medicines have decreased joint pain and damage. RA is a systematic disease and it can cause problems throughout the body.
Chemical Level
RA is an autoimmune disease. Certain cells of the immune system do not work properly and start attacking healthy tissues — the joints in RA. The cause of RA is not known. Yet, new research is giving us a better idea of what makes the immune system attack the body and create inflammation. In RA, the focus of the inflammation is in the synovium, the tissue that lines the joint. Immune cells release inflammation-causing chemicals. These chemicals can damage cartilage (the tissue that cushions between joints) and bone.
Cellular Level
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease and, unfortunately, the exact etiology of RA remains unknown. Though the mechanism is unknown, we do know that the cells of
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Qaini Abidi
Biology 106
Tracy Gray
March 11, 2013
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an auto immune disorder, which means body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. RA is a long-term disease that leads to inflammation of joints and surrounding tissues, also other organs. It could occur at any age, and mostly common in middle age (30-40 yrs.). Women are likely to get RA more than men. Infection, genes, hormone changes may be linked to the disease.
SYMPTOMS
RA affects joints on both sides of the body equally. Wrist, fingers, knees, feet, and ankles are most commonly affected. The disease starts by affecting a minor joint, but eventually starts affecting the all the joints. Joints may feel warm and tender in the morning for an hour and joint pain will be felt on the same joint on both sides. Over time, joints could become deformed, just means they could lose shape and figure of the joints. Chances are patients could be completely paralyzed. Dry mouth, chest pain, long breaths, sleep difficulties could all be symptoms of RA. Early diagnoses of the disease and medicines have decreased joint pain and damage. RA is a systematic disease and it can cause problems throughout the body.
Chemical Level
RA is an autoimmune disease. Certain cells of the immune system do not work properly and start attacking healthy tissues — the joints in RA. The cause of RA is not known. Yet, new research is giving us a better idea of what makes the immune system attack the body and create inflammation. In RA, the focus of the inflammation is in the synovium, the tissue that lines the joint. Immune cells release inflammation-causing chemicals. These chemicals can damage cartilage (the tissue that cushions between joints) and bone.
Cellular Level
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease and, unfortunately, the exact etiology of RA remains unknown. Though the mechanism is unknown, we do know that the cells of
Cited: Page Sheil,W.C., 2013. Rheumatoid Arthritis.emedicinehealth.com. Retrieved 2013, from http://www.emedicinehealth.com/rheumatoid_arthritis/article_em.htm