Rheumatoid Arthritis In The Elderly
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disorder that affects the elderly. It is important to know well how this affects the person in order to be able to help them in the most appropriate way.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease. That means that it has no possible cure and is characterized by its degenerative quality. The disease progressively worsens over time and requires specific care. Mark Berger Chicago, founder and CEO of Villa Healthcare, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center, indicates that the proper type of care will be the best method to minimize this progression by improving the quality of life of the elderly who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.
Here, Mark Berger Chicago explains more about rheumatoid arthritis in the elderly.
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
The main cause of the ailment is the inflammation of the membrane called synovium that covers and protects the cartilage. These tissues are found in the joints and in the areas that surround them, although on many occasions the disease affects a wider radius, damaging other organs.
“Sometimes older people see how arthritis affects their kidneys, heart or lungs, notably worsening their health and progressively reducing their quality of life,” says Mark Berger Chicago.
The aforementioned inflammation of the joint membranes causes great pain and considerable stiffness that immediately leads to a loss of mobility. These characteristic aches and pains are felt more intensely in the morning, improving with activity throughout the day.
Mark Berger Chicago, who has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare sector, indicates that, if the inflammation is not treated properly and remains uncontrolled, the degeneration of the tissues increases and the disease progresses rapidly and can damage bones, surrounding ligaments and tendons.
The direct consequence of this progression of the disease is the deformation of the damaged joints and, with it, an increasingly marked loss of their ability to move. Thus, with a higher incidence in the elderly, the inability to move and the difficulty in performing simple tasks becomes more and more noticeable and daily life becomes an effort that ends up requiring the assistance of other people, such as family members and caregivers.
To avoid reaching this situation of dependency, it is important to take specific care of the inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis in older people. According to Mark Berger Chicago, the relief of pain, the improvement of symptoms in general, and the brake that can be put on the relentless progression of the disease allows these people to maintain their independence and personal mobility for longer, favoring a healthier and much more complete life.
Originally published at https://markbchicago.blogspot.com.