Almost half of Americans with the age of 65 years and older are suffering from arthritis (https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/arthritis-related-stats.htm). However, this number is only based on diagnosed patients. Some senior citizens are left undiagnosed and untreated because they fail to appreciate and consider the signs and symptoms. When they already feel some discomfort, they just ignore it.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of an inflammatory disease and an autoimmune disorder. It has to be diagnosed and treated early so it won’t cause worse health conditions. Take note of these symptoms which Palace Drugs and Liquors have enumerated.
- Stiffness during morning.
A person who feels stiffness for a few minutes during the morning is likely to have a degenerative arthritis. On the other hand, when the stiffness lasts until a number of hours, this may be a symptom of an inflammatory arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
- Joint Stiffness
Another symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is another kind of stiffness ― one that can happen anytime of the day. The stiffness often begins in the joint of the hands and this may occur in the joints of other parts of the body after a few days. When this happens, we must already visit the doctor and purchase the prescribed drugs from a community pharmacy in Jersey City, New Jersey.
- Joint Swelling
Swelling of joints may be minimal or apparent. Swollen joints which are minimal are difficult to notice; hence, senior citizens who feel this symptom just ignore it. On the other hand, swollen joints may be easily determined because the part our body that swells becomes obviously bigger.
- Fatigue
A person who suffers from joint pains and fatigue at the same time has to get checked for rheumatoid arthritis. Fatigue in this type of arthritis is usually a result of the body’s reaction to the inflammation, poor sleep or medications bought from any healthcare pharmacy in New Jersey. Thus, this sign may precede other symptoms by weeks.
- Limping
When the part of our body affected by arthritis is our lower extremities, we might experience difficulty in walking. Nonetheless, limping itself cannot be the sole basis of arthritis because this symptom may be due to other health conditions.
- Fever
When a low-grade fever is accompanied by other symptoms already mentioned like joint pain, one might already be suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. However, if the fever is higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it might not be arthritis anymore but another type of illness.
- Joint Tenderness
The inflamed joint lining tissues caused by rheumatoid arthritis would irritate the nerves of a person suffering from such condition. This leads to the tenderness of joints in the affected area. When the irritated joint is pinched, it is usually tender to feel and the area hurts while being compressed.
We should always be conscious with the changes happening in our body. Let us never dismiss any type of pain or discomfort. And this reminder is not only for those possibly experiencing from rheumatoid arthritis but to everyone else.