locking joints, ulnar drift (weakening of tendons and ligaments that cause fingers to curve toward the pinkie), swan neck deformities (distortions of the joints causing unusual bending and straightening), and even ruptured tendons. All of these can make it difficult to write, hold objects, and unscrew lids.
Effects of RA on your feet may include hammertoes (abnormal bending of the toes), bunion (a bony nodule on the outside edge of the big toe), pes planus (loosening of the arch joint in the middle of the foot), and valgus hind foot (loosening of the joint below the ankle, causing the foot to bend forward).
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Your rheumatologist and podiatrist can help you learn ways of moving that are less painful and that strengthen your muscles.
4. Skin
Skin rash and ulcers are common among people living with rheumatoid arthritis, especially if the disease has gone untreated.
In fact, up to 30 percent of people with RA develop rheumatoid nodules — knots of inflammatory tissue just under the skin near a joint, according to research published in the journal Autoimmunity Reviews. These typically appear on the elbows, hands, and feet. These can be treated with a steroid injection. DMARD medications can also resolve your skin problems.
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5. Heart
Higher levels of inflammation that are caused by RA can increase your risk of heart disease, especially heart attacks and strokes.
The good news is that with a few lifestyle changes, you can lower your risk of developing heart disease. You can start by getting your RA under control and reducing your heart risk factors, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. You can successfully do this through a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, not smoking, not drinking, etc.
6. Lungs
Interstitial lung disease (ILD), is a condition that causes inflammation and scarring of the lung tissue. Although hard to detect, this illness occurs when lung tissue becomes inflamed and eventually scarred. This condition can cause breathlessness and coughing but can also be asymptomatic. When untreated, it may progress to pulmonary fibrosis (permanently scarred tissues).
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD (also known as emphysema or chronic bronchitis), pleurisy and nodules on your lungs can also develop as a result of RA.
The best way to combat this is to be proactive about your RA treatment and minimize your risk for lung problems. Additionally, if you smoke, you should quit.
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7. Circulatory system
If you’ve noticed that RA has caused you to feel more fatigued lately, you are not alone. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause