Rheumatoid arthritis is a serious disease of the autoimmune system which mostly affects your joints. However, because it is an autoimmune, systematic disease, it may also affect other areas of your body. Here are some of them:

The Skin!

One area that may be affected is the skin. It’s not uncommon for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers to report small nodules that are formed under the skin. Most of the time, these relatively small nodules can be found near a joint area. The skin nodules become most noticeable when a joint is flexed.

Another skin condition commonly associated with rheumatoid arthritis is purpura. Purpura refers to purplish patches on the skin that develop because of damage to the blood vessels. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause the blood vessels to become damaged, causing them to rupture and bleed into the skin. This process is known as vasculitis.

One more skin problem associated with rheumatoid arthritis is skin ulcers. Skin ulcers appear as a result of vasculitic lesions.

The Heart!

Another area that may be adversely affected because of rheumatoid arthritis is the heart. It is not uncommon that fluid collects around the heart as a result of the inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Although these symptoms are usually quite mild, it is possible this problem may develop into something more serious. If inflammation is severe, it may affect the heart muscle. The coronary arteries may swell, causing the heart muscle to work harder.

The Lungs! 

The lungs may also be affected by rheumatoid arthritis. Like the heart muscle, fluid may collect around the lungs. The lung tissue may also become stiff. The inflammation related to rheumatoid arthritis can may it difficult to breathe.

Musculoskeletal Structures!

The musculoskeletal structures of the body may be severely affected by rheumatoid arthritis. When inflammation strikes the joints, the muscles may become shrunken and weak. This is known as atrophy. The most vulnerable area that may be affected by atrophy is the area of the hands. Atrophy is not directly caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Atrophy is the result of not using certain muscles for an extended period of time. When rheumatoid arthritis strikes, the affected joints and muscles may become the source of discomfort, pain, and swelling. This causes us to not use the stricken muscles, and this in turn causes atrophy.

The Digestive System!

The digestive tract is also affected by rheumatoid arthritis. The most common complication is known as dry mouth, which is related to Sjogren syndrome. Most digestive complications associated with rheumatoid arthritis appear to develop as a result of the medications taken to control the disease. The most common digestive complaints related to the medications include stomach ulcers and stomach inflammation (gastritis).

The Blood!

A persons blood may also be affected by rheumatoid arthritis. Many rheumatoid arthritis patients find that they develop anemia. Anemia is a result of a low level of red blood cells, and a low level of hemoglobin in the blood cells. These are responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the blood stream.

Chances are you’ve heard this advice before [ed. if you’ve got some type of arthritis, that is]: Exercise can be very beneficial to your joint and muscle health. Studies have shown that exercise can help reduce many of the often-painful symptoms associated with arthritis. Improved joint mobility, increased muscle strength, and overall better health are just some of the benefits of exercise.

  

Before you start any exercise regime, make sure to visit with your doctor and nutritionist. They will help you establish a safe exercise regime that is effective but which guards against injury. What sort of exercises might your doctor or therapist recommend for you? It’ll depend on your situation. but, in general, it is recommended that arthritis patients focus on low impact exercises that tone the body, retain and increase your flexibility, and improve posture. These health goals are all important for arthritis patients. In general, recommended exercises fall into one of three main categories. These are mobility exercises, aerobic exercises, and strength exercises. Mobility exercises are those that seek to improve the patient’s ability to stay flexible and retain or improve their range of motion. Aerobic exercises are those that improve overall cardiovascular fitness. Strength exercises include weight-bearing exercises that help build muscle strength and improve joint flexibility and stability.

  

For your mobility exercise, consider yoga or Tai Chi. These activities are low impact and can improve flexibility and range of motion considerably when done on a regular basis. Strength exercises that are suitable for arthritis sufferers include low impact weight training and some kinds of water exercises. Aerobic exercises that are recommended for arthritis sufferers include low impact activities such as walking or cycling. These help improve cardiovascular fitness while still strengthening joint health. Other exercises that are recommended for arthritis patients include all types of water exercises (including swimming), chair exercises, dancing, and stretching exercises.

  Remember that your exercise routine should be gentle enough so that it does not aggravate your arthritic symptoms. Even though some kind of regular physical activity is key for arthritis patients, it is also important to integrate periods of rest into your schedule. Never exercise if one or more of your joints feels hot or pained. Any feelings of warmth or hotness means that your joints are inflamed, and you should never exercise on inflamed joints or muscles. What can you expect from your exercise routine? After roughly six weeks of regular exercise you can expect to notice that your balance has improved. Your posture will also be improved, especially if you have integrated mobility exercises into your exercise routine. Exercise can also be an important means for prevention. Prevention is an important part of staying healthy as an arthritis patient. Exercise can slow or stop inflammation considerably. It can help nourish the joints, reduce the instances of joint deformity, maintain bone density, and help prevent the onset of osteoporosis. Furthermore, exercise is an important step toward weight maintenance, which is also key for all arthritis patients.

The prostate is a gland in men, is about the size of a walnut and sits just below the bladder.  Prostate cancer is a disease where malignant cancer cells form in the tissues of the prostate.

A disease where malignant cancer cells form in the tissues of the bladder.

This refers to the parts of the body that play a role in reproduction and getting rid of waste products in the form of urine. The most common genitourinary cancers are bladder and prostate; but there are renal and testicular cancers as well.