There is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis, though there are ways to alleviate the ongoing pain and discomfort along with preventing further degeneration. Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs are frequently used to prevent further erosion and to also induce some amount of remission. This becomes especially important because in most cases bone and tissue disintegration is often irreversible. Anti-inflammatory agents and analgesics have also been found to be effective for reducing the pain, though they do nothing to repair the existing damage. Losing weight is also another important remedy, though it works better as a preventive measure even if you begin your attempts well into your twenties or thirties.
Reducing the amount of saturated and animal fats in one’s diet has shown positive results according to some studies, while others advocate either strict vegetarianism or a diet rich in white meat. Our bones and tissue also have a way of repairing the damage done by arthritis, though the momentum of these will be severely reduced. But the right amount of vitamins and nutrients can help bring about some change. Lastly exercise and physical activity are guaranteed to improve the physical and the mental well being of a person suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, but care and attention should be paid not to overwork the already sensitive joints.
Along with the slowing down of movement, arthritis has also been known to lead to depression and an end to one’s sex life. Because it is so closely linked to growing old, people suffering from disease are more likely to develop feelings of self-pity and helplessness, assuming automatically the persona of an elderly person irrespective of their actual age. And while it does not cause death, there are high chances of other conditions like heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol developing because of the physiological changes and the reduced activity that the person now adopts.
Since the cause of the disease is yet to be determined there are limited ways to prevent its onset and none of these can be empirically verified. But doctors do advise moderation in one’s diet, exercise, and reduced stress levels that together help to improve the quality of one’s life and thus make the body less susceptible to the disease, even if one possesses the genetic predisposition.
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