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.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis - It Doesn’t Just Affect Your Joints