What to Avoid if You have Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an immune system disorder which affects the joints, the hands, and wrists. Common symptoms include pain in the joints (sometimes unbearable), swelling, and fever. These symptoms may develop over a period of time, usually months. This disease can cause inflammation around the heart, lungs, and lowering of the RBC count (Red blood cells).
Rheumatoid arthritis is a common disease found among people between 40 and 60 years of age. It is more commonly found in women. Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive autoimmune disease. Studies have shown that both genetics and environmental factors play major roles as the causative agents of this disease. People with a family history of rheumatoid arthritis should avoid smoking cigarettes and consuming alcoholic beverages. These can contribute to the potential development of RA, and act as a trigger for those who already have it. Even some bacterial and viral infections can trigger rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups.
Even still, the exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis has not been found. Detailed research is being held on this issue.
Statistics
According to healthline, 41 out of 100,000 people are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis every year. In the United States, about 1.3 million people are affected by rheumatoid arthritis. As previously stated, women are more likely to get this disease. Women are two-and-a-half times more at risk of getting this disease than men. This disease can also occur in children, a juvenile form of the disease. About 300,000 children are affected by rheumatoid arthritis.
The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis can be a dangerous one for those patients suffering from heart diseases. This is because, according to healthline, the risk of heart attack is higher by about 60%. Not only heart attack, but infections can also pose a major threat to patients with rheumatoid arthritis. About 25% of people die as a result of infections. Rheumatoid arthritis also doubles the risk of depression.
Problems during rheumatoid arthritis
The principal effect of RA is on the immune system. As the immunity is affected, the antibodies invade the healthy tissues and misread them as foreign bacteria or other contaminants. This can result in a large-scale inflammation all over the body. Rheumatoid arthritis becomes a chronic condition in most patients.
RA can also make patients anemic which leads to dizziness, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Rarely, patients can also develop rheumatoid vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels) which can further damage the heart, lungs, and nerves. The pain and inflammation in the joints and other parts of the body may become exasperating and interfere with day-to-day life. Sometimes this disease limits the movement of the joint affected. This presents a problem if the patient is involved with work that requires a lot of physical activity. Even getting out of bed can become a challenge. Therefore, people tend to lose their jobs, find it difficult to search for jobs, take more breaks in their job hours, and reduce their work hours. This results in making less money to support themselves.
Money matters
Rheumatoid arthritis will require medical attention equivalent to over $5,000 per person every year. The medication alone can cost up to $15,000 annually if being treated with a biological agent. This does not include the changes in money expenditure in daily life. A person with Rheumatoid arthritis requires many changes in their lifestyle which can raise their cost-of-living substantially.
If you have not already opted for a medical insurance policy, then do so immediately. Choose your policy wisely and after careful consideration. This policy is going to aid with future medical expenses. Though being insured helps, it occasionally does not cover the full amount of steep medical and hospital expenses. To further aid such causes there are State-run foundations, Government assisted organizations, and even some drug companies which donate medicines or money to the needy. Should you find yourself in need of assistance, you may find it beneficial to seek out one of these locations. Also, try to avoid unnecessary expenses and be a bit thrifty to help yourself.
Things to Avoid
The main goal is to decrease inflammation and certain physical states that can trigger the disease. Like obesity and diabetes. The first and foremost food to avoid is sugar. Sugar stimulates the formation of chemical substances called cytokines. It is best to avoid sweet and sugary foods like pastries, cakes, desserts, chocolates, and processed fruit juices. Cut down on fatty foods as they trigger adipose tissue inflammation. This inflammation can result in worsening arthritis.
It is also advisable to avoid meats, pizza, cheese, and pasta. You should also steer clear of red meats as they contain saturated fat. These saturated fats can worsen inflammation and add to fat deposition. Avoid fast food, fried foods, snacks, frozen foods, cookies, and donuts. Oils like corn oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil and mayonnaise are a rich source of omega-6 fatty acids. A high dosage of such fatty acids may worsen the already inflamed state of the body. Use fish oil instead as it is a rich source Omega-3 fatty acid which helps with the inflammation. Dairy products contain proteins which can instigate pain in RA, so they should be avoided. Instead of the milk, butter, and meat try including vegetables like spinach, quinoa, lentils, or beans which would meet your daily protein demands.
It is recommended to cut down on products containing carbohydrates like breads, crackers, and white potatoes. Mono-sodium-glutamate which is a major additive in foods is known to trigger chronic inflammation. Avoiding alcohol and smoking are the most important things to do after being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.
What should you eat then?
Along with fish oil, keep fishes like tuna, herring, salmon, mackerel, and trout in your diet. They are packed to the gills with the same Omega-3 that will help you ward off inflammation. Replacing your oil/butter with extra virgin olive oil would ease the pain just as an NSAID (Non- Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug) does.
Overall, maintaining a strict a diet with fruits, whole grains, and vegetables being the foods that replace meats, Fried foods, and Processed foods would be the best approach to building a healthier life.
