HEALTH CARE-BEATING RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS-CHRONIC FATIGUE

HEALTH CARE-BEATING RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS-CHRONIC FATIGUE

HEALTH CARE-BEATING RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS-CHRONIC FATIGUE

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the chronic disease that involves inflammation of the joints, generally  the small joints in the hands and feet. These joints gets swelling and will be painful and in due course may  become twisted or deformed. As this disorder progresses, it may be  spreading to other joints and tissues and to even major organs like the heart and kidneys.

It is caused by an autoimmune response,i.e, the body’s own immune system mistakingly attacks the joints, as if they’re some harmful foreign substance. There’s no proper cure for this disease and because it’s a progressive disease, symptoms gets worsen gradually. However, there are a number of effective treatments and proper treatment is critical to managing the progressiveness  of this disorder.

LONG TERM EFFECTS:

As the disease progresses, ie., can cause pain and inflammation to other joints in the body, such as wrists, elbows, shoulders, ankles, knees, hips, the spaces between the vertebrae in the spine and even the ribcage.

If it is not treated, the long-term damage to the joints can be very much deteriorative. Fibrous tissue may form around the joints and bones may fuse together. This can cause deformity and  loss of mobility, with the hands being the most commonly affected, this loss of mobility can cause serious issues with quality of life.

OTHER COMPLICATIONS:

When Rheumatoid Arthritis isn’t properly treated, serious complications can develop in the major organs, including the skin, heart, lungs, and kidneys.

TIRESOMENESS:

One of the most common side effects from this disease is chronic fatigue  or tiresomeness all the time.  Majority with thisdisease suffer from chronic fatigue, which can be overwhelming and severely impact our quality of life. RA-related fatigue can be caused by multiple conditions, including:

·         chronic inflammation

·         high blood pressure

·         depression

·         lack of sleep due to pain

·         obesity

·         side effects of some medicines

MANAGING CHRONIC FATIGUE:

Just like there are many possible causes for fatigue, there are also many ways to manage it, like medication for depression, lack of sleep and high blood pressure. There are also additional ways to combat fatigue besides therapy sessions or medications.

Exercise:

Exercise may be the furthest thing from our mind when we feel fatigue, but it can be one of the best ways to fight drowsiness. Gentle, low-impact exercises can strengthen muscles, build endurance, and make our heart stronger.  We may even find ourselves losing extra weight and lowering our blood pressure. Good exercises to try are yoga, swimming, bicycling, and gentle stretching.

CHANGING OUR ROUTINE:

Making our life easier by streamlining tasks at home and work. For example:

·         When cooking, making sure we gather all ingredients and utensils beforehand.

·         Asking a friend to help us to rearrange our cabinets so that the things we use everyday are easily accessible.

·         Sitting down to make a list of the different ways we can work smarter, not harder and asking for help if we feel in need of it.

TO GET A GOODNIGHT’S SLEEP:

Adults need about eight hours of sleep per night. Even if possible, a short, 20 to 30 minute daytime nap may also help us feel more afresh, alert, energetic, and recharged. To avoid long naps during the day is necessary, since they can interfere with our regular sleep schedule.

EATING HEALTHY:

Large, high-fat, high-carbohydrate meals can make us feel tired and sluggish. Protein-packed breakfast and a light lunch, with a couple of healthy snacks will be good to prevent hunger. If we’re dealing with chronic fatigue, it’s important to discuss with our healthcare providers and talk about what can be done to overcome our problems. Just because we have Rheumatoid Arthritis, it doesn’t mean that we have to feel tired and suffer with headaches all the time or put our life on hold.

Therefore if we are having such joint pains and fatigue problems, frequently and not lasting till long duration and suffering repetitively, we have to discuss in depth with our health provider for proper medication, besides taking up suitable physical exercises, which suits to our age and our body condition.