How Rheumatoid Arthritis Will Affect Your Life

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) has been diagnosed for an estimated 2 million Americans. That number indicates that every American is somehow affected by RA. If you have an RA sufferer in your family or know someone with RA there are a few things you should know.

Take into consideration that more than joints are involved in RA. Also affected are: skin, voice, muscles, appetite, lungs, heart and emotions. Climate changes affect RA and should be observed when planning trips and vacations. Cold, wet areas should be avoided as this can cause pain and swelling. If you will follow weather forecasts and note when a dramatic change of weather is expected you can prepare for a change in an RA sufferer's condition. Generally, flu-like symptoms will occur.

RA affects the emotions through the feelings of helplessness that occur when opening bottles or jars become difficult, when simple tasks cause pain and when sudden fatigue sets in. Keeping a positive attitude while in contact with an RA sufferer can provide much needed support. Inquiring about how they feel from day-to-day may give the arthritic peace of mind. Knowing that they can ask for help without receiving responses that make them feel lazy for having asked helps greatly. If they have managed to gather the courage to ask you to lift that box of paper, by all means do so with a smile.

A person with RA will generally be tempted to do more than they should. Lifting moderately heavy items (ex: bringing groceries in from the car) can cause serious pain for the next few days and should be avoided if the RA is active. Since RA also affects the emotions an RA sufferer will find asking for help difficult. If you know someone with RA and see an opportunity to assist in carrying anything please don't hesitate to take action.

Proper duration of sleep is important to an RA sufferer. At times (depending on the activity of the disease) one will require anywhere between 8 and 12 hours of sleep at night. Avoid late night calls and all night invitations. If an arthritic declines an evening invitation, don't pressure them to accept.

Also helpful to RA sufferers is for those around them to understand how the disease works. Articles on the latest research and treatment methods are a valuable resource and can give you an interesting topic of conversation with the arthritic in your life.

The best way to help an RA sufferer is to remain positive and understanding at all times.