Rheumatism: Symptoms, What It Is and Treatment

A common symptom of rheumatic diseases is pain in the joints and surrounding tissues.

Often there is also:

• swelling of the affected area,
• redness,
• impaired mobility mainly due to stiff joints.

These symptoms can be a clue to how rheumatism is recognized. Other symptoms of rheumatism may be increased temperature or fatigue. ^[1]

Some rheumatic diseases are related to a malfunctioning immune system, where the body attacks its own cells. An example of such an autoimmune disease is rheumatoid arthritis. In other diagnoses, the cause is the development of inflammation after an infection, an unhealthy lifestyle, or genetic stress. This provides an answer for anyone wondering whether rheumatism is hereditary^. In the case of gout (one form of arthritis), an increased concentration of uric acid in the blood is to blame. ^[5]

What are the causes of disease in extra-articular rheumatism?

• Systemic scleroderma – this rare rheumatic connective tissue disease does not have a precisely elucidated cause.
  In addition to muscles and joints, it can also affect blood vessels and some organs.
  Treatment focuses only on symptoms, as there are no effective drugs for this type of rheumatism.
• Sjogren’s syndrome is an inflammatory disease that is classified as a systemic rheumatoid disease and is autoimmune in nature.
  The cause is unknown.
  In the disease, the glands of external secretion (for example, salivary and lacrimal glands) are affected, so patients suffer from a lack of saliva and tears.
  Sjogren’s syndrome often occurs in people with rheumatoid arthritis. ^[6]

Of course, the list of diagnoses that fall under the category of extra-articular rheumatism includes more items than just these two diseases. In general, such diseases may be referred to as soft tissue rheumatism, which affects parts of the musculoskeletal system other than the bones – for example, tendons, tendon attachments, muscles, ligaments, bursae (sacs around the joint) and other tissues. ^[7]

• Previous infectious diseases,
• unhealthy lifestyle (smoking, overweight, sedentary lifestyle),
• female gender,
• the occurrence of this disease in the family,
• untreated chronic diseases. ^{[8] ,[9]}

• More than 18 million people worldwide live with rheumatoid arthritis.
  Almost three quarters of cases are women. ^[11]
• A counter example is gout.
  This is more common in men (200 male patients and 68 female patients per 100 000 people). ^[12]
• For example, arthritis of the joints is a common condition: one in four adults has some type of arthritis of the joints.
  It is most common in people over 65, but young people can also get it. ^[13]
• More than 100 million Europeans suffer from some form of rheumatic disease.
• Statistics also track rheumatism in children: one child in 1,000 will develop some form of rheumatic disease.

Life with rheumatic disease is often marked by pain, limited mobility and impaired mental health. In addition to adhering to prescribed treatment, it pays to think of many other steps that can alleviate rheumatic problems:

• Regular exercise can relieve pain, improve joint mobility and reduce the risk of injury.
• A balanced and varied diet is important for overall good health and weight loss.
• The musculoskeletal system of rheumatic patients requires correct positioning when sitting, standing and sleeping.
• A healthy lifestyle helps maintain good mental fitness. ^{[19] ,[20]}

Note: Rheumatism diet – proper diet is especially important for gout patients.

There is no universal or clear-cut answer to the question of how to reduce the risk of rheumatism. It is related to the wide range of rheumatic diseases, their different causes and the different course of the disease. In general, however, prevention could be summarised in a few points:

• Take up a regular sport or exercise that you can manage given your health.
• Maintain a good body weight so that you don’t put excess weight on your joints.
• Don’t ignore the pain and see a doctor if you have problems. ^[21]
• Stop smoking – smoking worsens pain and damages joint cartilage. ^[22]
• You can support joint health with supplements, such as those containing omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids or glucosamine and chondroitin. ^[23]
• In the prevention of gout, a diet with a limited amount of purine-rich foods and a sufficient drinking regime is important. ^[24]

Note: Revma Herbs – Turmeric has anti-inflammatory effects

Living with rheumatism is often physically and mentally challenging. A source of support can be not only family, but also various patient groups, associations and other organisations that bring together people with the same disease.
Practical tips and advice from other patients on how to cope with pain, fatigue and other challenges of rheumatic diseases are an important help. In addition, patient groups often include psychologists who can be an additional source of help in challenging situations. ^[25]

• An example of an association that brings together patients with rheumatic diseases in the Czech Republic is the Revma Liga ČR.
• The association is a helper for all rheumatics and provides valuable information, support and sharing of experience or knowledge.
  Simply put – it aims to improve the lives of people with rheumatic diseases. ^[26]