We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Which Factors are Considered When Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis?

By Christine Gray
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 1,922
Share

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by an inflammation of the synovium, or the tissue that lines and lubricates the joints. Over time, the inflamed synovial tissue begins to wear away at the cartilage and bone that makes up a join, causing permanent deformities. When diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis, doctors consider a combination of risk factors, symptoms, and test results.

Physicians diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis will ask a series of questions to determine whether there are any risk factors present that increase an individual's likelihood of developing the condition. While rheumatoid arthritis isn't technically a hereditary disease, experts believe that a predisposition to the condition can be passed down through a family. A diagnosing physician will want to know about any family history of rheumatoid arthritis or any other autoimmune diseases. The doctor will likely also ask about any history of smoking, which is a known risk factor for developing the disease.

Physicians will look for specific symptoms when diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis. Early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include pain in the small joints of the body, especially the hands, feet, ankles, and wrists. As the disease progresses, it's normal for sufferers to experience swelling, fatigue, weight loss, joints that are tender to the touch and stiffness upon waking in the morning.

Sufferers usually experience periods of intense disease activity, or flares, followed by periods of decreased disease activity during which their symptoms can disappear entirely, especially early in the disease progression. When diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis, a physician will evaluate a patient's symptoms by checking the joints for swelling, redness and warmth. She will also perform strength and reflex tests to determine any damage that many already have occurred to the joints.

There are also certain blood tests physicians can use when diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis. Tests can check for evidence of an inflammatory process taking place in the body, shown by an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Physicians may also run blood tests for rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies. An x-ray may also be ordered to both evaluate how far the disease has already progressed and serve as a base-line to compare against future x-rays.

Advances in disease treatment have made early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis particularly important. Although there is no cure, early treatment can significantly delay or even prevent disease progression. This is particularly important as rheumatoid arthritis can ultimately cause life-threatening inflammations of the blood vessels, pericardium, and heart.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By John57 — On May 21, 2011

I know for many people the first symptoms are in the small joints of the body. I had sharp, shooting pains in my knees and feet and some wrist pain. I also a lot of fatigue and realized that I tired very quickly. I have found the best help for rheumatoid arthritis at this point is to get as much rest as possible and to stagger my physical activity when I can.

I cannot spend all day working outside in the yard without taking some breaks throughout the day. Some days are better than others, and I also try to keep my weight balanced and eat as many fresh fruits and vegetables as I can.

By honeybees — On May 18, 2011

I know that this disease can be a scary thing to think about. I received a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis just a few months ago. I was having pain and discomfort in my wrists, fingers and elbows. At first I thought it was just arthritis that goes a long with aging, but thought I should have it checkout out.

I was told that the sooner you have a diagnosis, the better is is so you can take treatment that may help slow the progression of the symptoms. My symptoms are not that severe right now, so I am able to just use some Tylenol, but it helped to know why I was having so much discomfort.

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/which-factors-are-considered-when-diagnosing-rheumatoid-arthritis.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.