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The term
"Rheumatism" defines certain medical
conditions that affect the connective
tissues and joints of human body.
Depending on various conditions different
rheumatic disorders have been recognised.
Joint and muscle pain, swelling,
inflammation are some common causes of
such disorders. Most of these disorders
have one or multiple causes and require
several kinds of treatment.
The rheumatic disorders are also commonly
known as autoimmune disorders as these
diseases are mostly caused due to the
hyperactive immune system. Joint linings
and muscles are attacked by the immune
system thus resulting in muscle
destruction, swelling of joints and severe
pain. Almost all the joints can get
affected by more than 100 types of
rheumatic diseases.
Different
Rheumatic Diseases -
1)
Osteoarthritis
2) Rheumatoid Arthritis
3) Rheumatic Arthritis
4) SLE or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
OSTEOARTHRITIS -
It is one of
the most common rheumatic diseases found
as an aftereffect of wear and tear to the
joints. It is diagnosed as a normal sign
of aging that affects many joints like
knees, neck, fingers, lower back, hips and
feet by damaging the cartilages gradually.
 Various
signs and symptoms of Osteoarthritis on
the basis of the joint affected are -
Joint pain
Swelling
Stiffness
Painful walking
Instability in joints
Muscles become weaker
Difficulty in holding objects, combing
hair or bending over
Difficulty while sitting for a long time
Painful joints are found to be warm to
touch
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
-
This rheumatic disorder damages joints
permanently as in this condition human
body's immune system attacks own linings
and tissues. Constant joint pain,
stiffness, sweeling and severity of the
condition causes deformity of joints.
Common symptoms perceptible in
Rheumatoid Arthritic condition are -
Swelling and severe joint pain
Multiple joints involvement
Involvement of eyes and lungs
Fatigue
Rheumatoid lumps or nodules
Joint stiffness
Lupus known as
SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)
This disease is
also a common autoimmune disorder cause of
which is still unknown. Antinuclear
antibody test (ANA) is advised to the
patients to detect this rheumatic
disorder.
Symptoms are:
Pain in joints
Weakness
Joint stiffness
Skin rashes
Sensitivity to sun exposure
Hair loss
Raynaud's phenomenon
Involvement of Internal organ (kidneys)
Anemia and low platelet counts
Low white blood cells
Inflammation causing chest pain
Strokes
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