Switch to हिंदी

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

हिंदी
  • Health A-Z
  • Home Remedies
  • Diseases
    • Type 1 Diabetes
    • Type 2 Diabetes
    • Cancer
    • Heart Attack
    • Pneumonia
    • Diseases A-Z
  • Diet & Fitness
    • Weight Management
    • Exercise & Body Building
    • Diet & Recipes
    • Yoga
  • Coronavirus
  • News
  • Pregnancy
    • Conceiving
    • Infertility
    • Labour & Delivery
    • Pregnancy week-by-week
    • Breastfeeding
    • Baby Names
  • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Hair
    • Grooming
  • Photos
  • Videos
BLA21 cibil.com ageas federal zee hindustan
Home / Diseases & Conditions / Expert speak: Rheumatoid arthritis may decrease lifespan of elderly patients

Expert speak: Rheumatoid arthritis may decrease lifespan of elderly patients

Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating disease that can drastically bring down a person’s quality of life. Dr Ravi Gaur, MD (Pathology), COO, Oncquest Laboratories Limited, sheds light on this progressive condition.

By: Editorial Team   | Edited by: Jahnavi Sarma   | | Updated: November 1, 2019 6:33 pm
Tags: Rheumatoid arthritis disease  
Rheumatoid arthritis causes, symptoms and treatment
Early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may go unnoticed but demand immediate intervention. © Shutterstock

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a progressive and disabling autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the joints. This results in inflammation that causes the tissue that line the inside of joints to thicken. As a result of this thickening, swelling and pain in and around the joints occur. This inflammation, if left unchecked, can damage and even lead to the loss of cartilage, an elastic tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint. It can also damage the bones. RA usually affects the hands and feet first, but it can attack any joint. It usually involves the same joints on both sides of the body. Also Read - Study proves efficacy of 3 ayurvedic kashayams for rheumatoid arthritis treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease, which means it affects the whole body. There is a saying for RA, “It’s a disease which hurt the joints and kills the heart “. It occurs when a person’s immune system mistakes the body’s healthy tissues for foreign invaders. As the immune system responds, inflammation occurs in the target tissue or organ. In the case of RA, this can be the joints, lungs, eyes, and heart. Also Read - Rheumatoid arthritis can be debilitating: Say goodbye to joint pain with curcumin in your diet



This disease affects about 0..90 per cent of the adult population in India. It occurs earlier in women than in men. It is difficult to make an exact estimate regarding the number of people suffering from this condition because it goes largely underreported. Also Read - Rheumatoid Arthritis: Amazing Ayurvedic oil blends that can work wonders

Prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis patients

It is not possible to predict the life expectancy of a patient diagnosed with RA accurately due to unpredictable variables. This is a chronic and progressive disease. Healthcare professionals are not very sure as to the exact causes or triggers of the disease. But they believe that it may be due to a combination of factors. Thanks to advancements made in the field of medical science and research, there are now many treatment options that can prolong the lives of patients, slow the progression of disease and provide some relief too.

How does it affect life expectancy?

What research has found is that it isn’t the disease itself which reduces the life expectancy of patients. This happens because of the associated complications. For example, RA can cause respiratory and cardiovascular disorders, which can accumulate over time and lead to a shortened lifespan. This is different than saying that RA itself causes premature death.

The complications that develop (hardened or blocked heart arteries, lung scarring, blood cancers, etc.) as a result of an aggressive RA disease increases a patient’s risk of a lower life expectancy. Generally, patients can expect their longevity to come down by 10 to 15 years. But you must remember that this is dependent on a number of factors including, but not limited to, gender, age, personal and family medical history, lifestyle (past and present), overall health and wellbeing, etc.

Rheumatoid arthritis and women

Women are almost three times more likely than men to develop RA. Symptoms seen in women are also typically more severe. To add insult to injury, the disease is more progressive and can potentially involve more systemic complications.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

Common symptoms include stiff joints, especially upon getting up in the mornings or after sitting down for a while. Some people often experience fatigue and a general feeling of being unwell. Pain, swelling and stiffness in more than one joint are other symptoms. RA affects the joints of the feet, hand, elbows, wrists, ankles and knees. Pain and inflammation in the small joints for a few weeks, accompanied by morning stiffness that lasts for over 45 minutes to an hour, are also indications of rheumatoid arthritis. This is not a curable condition, but you can prevent it or delay its progress.

Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

Early diagnosis is essential. As we age, degeneration in joints of the body and the resulting joint pain is inevitable. Coupled with osteoarthritis, it can be debilitating. The problem is that most people do not seek treatment till the condition becomes unbearable. Therefore, early diagnosis is very important.

Instead of taking pain medications, consult a doctor. He will ask you to undergo a few blood tests to confirm your condition and prescribe proper medication.

Treatment options

Try to avoid pain killers. You must visit a doctor if you notice any symptoms. He will prescribe specific medicines to manage your condition. If the disease is left unattended, then treatment gets increasingly difficult.

Regular follow-up is also very important in this condition. If you get relief, it doesn’t mean that you stop going to your doctor. Treatment for this disease is an ongoing process. You must also try and avoid trying out multiple conventional and non-conventional treatment procedures. It may adversely affect the outcome.

Early treatment greatly improves the prognosis of RA patients. If treatment begins before symptoms cause too much damage, they can generally go on to live a better (maybe even almost normal) quality of life. Ongoing treatment and monitoring can help doctors to provide the most appropriate and personalised care for their patients.

Each patient will experience a different set of symptoms over their lifetime. Doctors look for warning signs of other complications associated with RA and work to either prevent them or treat them as they develop. The main goal of treatment is to reduce pain and improve quality of life. Many patients experience very effective treatment plans and continue to live their lives making appropriate lifestyle adjustments along the way. In fact, with proper treatment, many RA patients live well into their 80s and 90s which is an average expected lifespan.

You may like to read this

Rheumatoid arthritis early symptoms

Life hacks for dealing with rheumatoid arthritis

Published : November 1, 2019 10:31 am | Updated:November 1, 2019 6:33 pm
Read Disclaimer

Exhaust from your vehicle may give you stroke as can an unhealthy lifestyle

Exhaust from your vehicle may give you stroke as can an unhealthy lifestyle

Childhood obesity: Junk food may not be the only culprit

Childhood obesity: Junk food may not be the only culprit

Please Wait. Article Loading ....

Coronavirus Updates

Coronavirus Updates

Stay Informed, Be Safe

  • 'Do not let your guards down': Centre asks states to deal COVID-19 violations firmly
  • Centre fixes COVID-19 vaccination price at Rs 250 per dose for private vaccination centres, but with a rider
  • 63% not willing to pay over Rs 600 for COVID-19 vaccine
  • India records over 16k fresh COVID-19 cases, 113 deaths in last 24 hrs
  • Single dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine can reduce transmission risk: Study

Health Calculators

BMI Calculator
bmi Calculator
Ideal Body Weight
ideal body weight
Daily Calorie Intake
Daily calorie intake
Calories Burned
calories burned

Related Stories

Study proves efficacy of 3 ayurvedic kashayams for rheumatoid arthritis treatment

Study proves efficacy of 3 ayurvedic kashayams for rheumatoid arthritis treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis can be debilitating: Say goodbye to joint pain with curcumin in your diet

Rheumatoid arthritis can be debilitating: Say goodbye to joint pain with curcumin in your diet

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Amazing Ayurvedic oil blends that can work wonders

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Amazing Ayurvedic oil blends that can work wonders

Winter can exacerbate arthritis pain: Here’s how to deal with it

Winter can exacerbate arthritis pain: Here’s how to deal with it

Rheumatoid arthritis ups your risk of diabetes by 23 per cent: Know other health risks

Rheumatoid arthritis ups your risk of diabetes by 23 per cent: Know other health risks

Health News in Hindi

Bitter Foods Benefits: कड़वी सब्जियां जो सेहत के लिए हैं बेहद हेल्दी, होते हैं गजब के फायदे

सेलेब्रिटी न्यूट्रीशनिस्ट रुजुता दिवेकर से जानिए लंच करने का परफेक्‍ट टाइम, रहेंगे हरदम फिट

Cinnamon Milk Side Effects: ब्लड शुगर बढ़ाए दालचीनी वाला दूध, हो सकते हैं ये 4 बड़े नुकसान

Parenting Tips: मेहमानों के सामने बच्चा जिद करे तो उसे पीटने के बजाए करें ये 5 काम, दोबारा नहीं करेगा ऐसी जिद

29 साल की महिला के पेट से निकाला गया 15 सेंटीमीटर का ट्यूमर, पढ़ें किस कैंसर की वजह से बना ट्यूमर

Read All

Recent Posts

  • Aerobic exercise may reduce memory loss in Alzheimer’s patients
  • ‘Do not let your guards down’: Centre asks states to deal COVID-19 violations firmly
  • Gut Health: An avocado a day may keep gut diseases at bay
  • Malaika Arora’s fitness routine is the ultimate workout motivation; check it out
  • Centre fixes COVID-19 vaccination price at Rs 250 per dose for private vaccination centres, but with a rider

About The health Site

TheHealthSite.com is India's largest health site with more than 40 lakh unique visitors per month. We focus on fitness, beauty, health, pregnancy and more.

Most popular health and wellness website in India in 2012 at the Website of the year awards.

health@corp.india.com
+91 – 22 – 6697 1234
Landline Phone number 91 – 22 – 2490 0302.

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD, 18th floor, A-Wing, Marathon Futurex, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013.

Useful Links

  • Weight Loss
  • Keto Diet Tips
  • Skin Care Tips
  • Intermittent Fasting
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Ashwagandha
  • Cancer
  • Pneumonia
  • Diarrhoea
  • Dengue
  • Typhoid
  • Tuberculosis
  • Chickenpox
  • Chikungunya
  • Depression
  • Hepatitis
  • Diabetes
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • Swine Flu
  • Baby Names
  • Cough and cold
  • Heart Attack
  • Breast Cancer
  • Ebola Virus
  • Dengue
  • Malaria
  • International Yoga Day
  • Hypotension
  • Heart Failure
  • Asthma
  • Brain Tumour
  • Celebrity Fitness
  • Goitre
  • HIV/AIDS

We respect your privacy

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Author Profiles

Copyright © 2021 Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved.