Last Updated on August 29, 2022 by Ghiselle Rousso
Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common arthritis types that occur in people. It usually occurs as a result of your own immune system attacking the healthy body tissues. The triggers however are not known till now but normally it’s the body’s immune system that attacks it.
Now, a number of myths and misconceptions have been spread about rheumatoid arthritis. It is often confused with arthritis which usually occurs. So, there is a lot of misconception and misinformation spread about it.
If your joints are tender and swollen, do not take it easy. An RA Factor test can help a lot. The RA Factor test price is quite affordable in Pakistan and can tell you about your joint health. Now, it is important to know the facts and discriminate them from the myths, So, let’s dive in deep.
Myth 1: Rheumatoid Arthritis is just a part of aging
Some people assume that rheumatoid arthritis is just a part of aging. It is often mistaken to be as normal as getting gray hair as you grow old. Now, the truth is that rheumatoid arthritis can impact people of all ages and not only people of old age.
While this disease is mostly seen in the people of the age bracket that starts from 30 and ends at 60, it is seen affecting teens and people younger than the age of 30.
So, to think that Rheumatoid arthritis only impacts people of old age is completely a wrong concept believed by a lot of people.
Myth 2: Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis are the same
It is true that both of these arthritis impact the joints but these are not the same. These are two completely different diseases and need different treatments.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease which means that the immune system sees normal proteins in the body as threats and tries to destroy them.
It is just like your own body goes against you. It can cause a lot of inflammation in the joints. As a result, you feel pain in the joints. It also comes with other symptoms like fever and weight loss.
On the other hand, osteoarthritis is only limited to the joints. It is also called wear and tear disease. It doesn’t involve the immune system at all like rheumatoid arthritis. So, it is wrong to believe that osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the same.
Myth 3: It’s a bad idea to exercise with Rheumatoid Arthritis
This myth is often believed more than it should be. A lot of people think that it is not normal to exercise with hurting joints that are inflamed. You can exercise with rheumatoid arthritis but to put too much strain on the joints is never a good idea.
A study suggests that when you have rheumatoid arthritis it is important to exercise, as rheumatoid arthritis increases the risk of heart disease. Exercising while having rheumatoid arthritis can also help you in feeling less depressed and reduce the fatigue caused by rheumatoid arthritis. So, doing a moderate amount of exercise that doesn’t involve high weights is the way to go. You can also go for walks which can reduce the risks of hurting your joints while exercising.
Myth 4: You just have to live with Rheumatoid Arthritis
In ancient times, when people used to visit hospitals with rheumatoid arthritis, they were treated with bed rest, massages, and by using a cold compress. This only helped in easing the symptoms and never eradicated the disease itself.
There is now a plethora of treatment options that one can try out and choose which one works the best for them. These treatments and therapies cannot only reduce the pain but also help a lot with the inflammation of the joints. These also help in preventing bone damage and deformity of the bones and joints.
Myth 5: You can damage your joints while having Rheumatoid Arthritis
Here are a number of therapies and treatments available to deal with Rheumatoid arthritis these days. These can help in preventing damage to the joints. So, it is never a good idea to think that Rheumatoid arthritis does damage the joints at all costs.
For each person, the symptoms and the overall experience of the disease are different. Genes and environmental factors do add to showing different symptoms of this disease in different people. So, thinking that rheumatoid arthritis only ends up causing damage to the joints is a complete myth.
Conclusion
Rheumatoid arthritis is a common disease that impacts the bones and joints. It is not as bad as it is believed to be. It is very important to clear out all the confusion spread about this disease and must be differentiated with the facts so that people stop focusing on the myths and start believing the truth and the facts.
