Ruth asks This Morning doctor about milk helping arthritis
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Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful condition which affects around one percent of the UK population. If left untreated, it can become an excruciating condition that stops people from being able to work or go about their daily life. But do you know these four unusual symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease and the most common form of arthritis in the UK.
Rheumatoid arthritis causes your immune system to target the cells in your joints, rather than fighting infection, which means your joints become painful and swollen.
Women are twice as likely as men to develop rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful condition that can make everyday life difficult and painful.
There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but an early diagnosis can be a crucial step towards making the condition manageable.
Although the main effects of rheumatoid arthritis are felt in the joints, it can have all sorts of effects on your body.
So, if you have any of these four surprising symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, you should not ignore them – and seek advice from your doctor.
Chest Pain
Did you know that rheumatoid arthritis puts you at a higher risk of heart disease?
This is because of something called atherosclerosis, where plaque builds up in your arteries.
As a result of rheumatoid arthritis, you can also develop a condition called pericarditis.
Pericarditis is where the tissues around our heart become inflamed, which can cause severe pain.
Blue hands and feet
Rheumatoid arthritis can attack the very small blood vessels in your hands and feet.
If your hands and feet turn white, blue or red when it’s cold outside this can be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis.
Due to damaged nerves, you might also experience numbness and tingling, or pins and needles, in your hands and feet.
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Dry eyes
A more unusual symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is suffering from dryness particularly in your eyes.
So if you’re constantly rubbing your eyes, it could be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis.
This is because rheumatoid arthritis can lead to developing another autoimmune disease named Sjögren’s syndrome, which causes dry eyes, mouth, nose, vagina or skin.
Stomach pain and indigestion
Both rheumatoid arthritis and medicines you might be prescribed to treat it can lead to stomach ulcers, stomach bleeding, acid reflux, diarrhoea and constipation.
The inflammation as a result of rheumatoid arthritis can also affect the colon, making colitis more likely.
In rare cases, pain in your stomach can be a sign of a serious complication called rheumatoid vasculitis where your blood vessels become inflamed.
In the case of rheumatoid vasculitis, your stomach pain might be accompanied by a lack of appetite and weight loss.
If you have any of these symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, you should see your doctor or call 111.
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