Rheumatoid arthritis refers to an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system is attacking the joints, organs as well as other parts of the body. The rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include the joints becoming swollen, stiff, as well as painful. In the later stages, the joints can even become deformed. These rheumatoid arthritis symptoms can occur in the other areas of your body also, such as your lungs, heart, besides blood vessels, and eyes. It typically strikes between the ages of 30 and 60, though it may occur at any age.
Although stiffness, swelling, as well as pain in certain joints are rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, these may also appear after not moving for a while. The affected joints would typically include hands, fingers, besides wrists, ankles, as well as feet, elbows, and even knees. Generally, in case a joint which is on the right side of your body gets affected, the same joint on the left side will also be affected. Other rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include a feeling of being tired with swollen lymph glands, low fever, less appetite, as well as weight loss. There may even be appearance of small bumps under your skin near all the affected joints.
The other rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include pain in several joints; besides stiffness in the joints. There will be a reduction in the range of motion of the affected joints. Inflammation is very common around the affected joints. The various signs of inflammation include redness, tenderness, as well as warmth. There will be swelling of affected joints as well as the surrounding areas. The early symptoms which tend to show up before the joint pain begins include fatigue, besides morning stiffness and widespread muscle aches. Loss of appetite leading to weakness is one of the other rheumatoid arthritis symptoms that tend to show up as the disease progresses.