Symptoms of arthritis in women are usually more severe than in men. When a woman has arthritis, she may feel severe pain that affects her quality of life.
There is no doubt that pain in the hands and feet is one of the most common symptoms that women suffer from around the world. The cause of this pain may be due to diseases unrelated to the joints, such as hypothyroidism and other diseases, so it was necessary to investigate the symptoms of arthritis in women to see if Whether the reason was detailed or not.
The two most common types of Arthritis are rheumatoid inflammation and osteoarthritis, and despite the difference in the cause and mechanism of their occurrence, they share somewhat similar symptoms. Follow us to learn more about all the symptoms of arthritis and how to treat it.
Symptoms of arthritis in women
Symptoms of arthritis usually appear in women between the ages of 30 and 50. but it is not necessarily only affect this age group, as you may see children with this disease.
Symptoms often come at intermittent periods. They may disappear at one time and intensify at another. You may notice the symptoms at specific times of the day, such as joint stiffness immediately after waking up.
Signs and symptoms of arthritis may differ from woman to woman, depending on the severity and type of disease. Still, when you have arthritis, you often notice one of these symptoms:
pain in the joints
Arthritis can affect several joints of the body and causes pain in them, especially the feet and hands, in addition to the knee and pelvis. As for the characteristics of joint pain, they are variable according to the severity of the inflammation. It may be intermittent, come in periods, or become continuous and chronic.
Pain is often the first symptom felt by patients with arthritis, characterized by the onset as a dull ache with a burning sensation.
The pain of arthritis is more obvious during the rest, which distinguishes it from the mechanical or traumatic causes of joint pain, which increase in intensity with movement. However, stressful activities of the joint, such as climbing stairs, may trigger the pain of inflammation after a short period. Still, the pain does not usually appear during the activity.
Swelling and redness around the joint
Arthritis is often accompanied by swelling and redness with a feeling of heat when touching the joint. This symptom is seen especially in women with rheumatoid arthritis. The reason is that the inflammatory activity leads to increased blood flow and expansion of capillaries in inflammation.
The degree of redness and swelling depends on the activity and severity of the arthritis. The more active the disease, the clearer the swelling and swelling of the joint. The more swelling is seen around the knee joint, you can read more about Causes of swollen knee.
joint stiffness
Stiffness is one of the most common symptoms of arthritis in women. It is defined as difficult and limited in joint movement, so when you feel difficulty bending and moving your fingers for an estimated 30 minutes after waking up from sleep, you may have arthritis, and the time required may be prolonged. For the disappearance of stiffness according to the type and severity of inflammation.
You do not need to worry if you suffer from symptoms of arthritis, as according to research and statistical studies, more than a quarter of women in the United States of America suffer from the disease, whether it is of the rheumatoid type or another type.
Symptoms of arthritis in pregnant women
The average weight gain for women during pregnancy may cause an increase in the severity of symptoms due to the increased pressure applied to the joint. It is usual for a pregnant woman with rheumatoid arthritis to intensify her joint pain and feel that the symptoms of the disease have become more evident, especially in the knee joint.
It is preferable for women who suffer from previously diagnosed arthritis to see a doctor when they are pregnant to evaluate and review the medications taken for treatment. Some medications must be changed when pregnant for fear of their effects on the fetus.
As we mentioned earlier, the feeling of increased symptoms during pregnancy is normal, not only due to the natural increase in weight but also to the psychological factors and mood swings that pregnant women are exposed to.
Causes of arthritis in women
Women are more likely to develop arthritis compared to men, whether the inflammation is rheumatoid or degenerative (osteoarthritis), and this is not limited to the prevalence of infection only, as the symptoms of arthritis in women are more severe and more disturbing than men. Factors including:
The immune factor of rheumatoid arthritis
The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is a failure in the body's immune mechanism, meaning that your body's immunity attacks the normal tissue in the joints, causing an inflammatory reaction that leads to inflammatory symptoms.
In general, women are more likely to develop immune diseases by up to 4 times the rate of men. Several hypotheses have been developed to explain these results. Some attributed this to biological and genetic factors, while others indicated the role of female hormones in this occurrence. Some suggested the contribution of environmental factors, while others suggested the role of ecological factors. None of these hypotheses has yet been proven.
risk factors for osteoarthritis
As with rheumatoid arthritis, women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis than men, especially women over 50 who have entered menopause.
The most important reason for the occurrence of degenerative arthritis Is weight gain and obesity as a result of the increased load on the joint, which over time leads to its stress, after which erosion and degeneration occur in the parts of the joint; in addition to the above, the effect of hormonal changes after women reach menopause, as the decrease in levels of the female hormone estrogen contributes to some extent to the high risk of developing joint diseases and the emergence of symptoms Arthritis in women.
How to treat arthritis in women
Treatment aims mainly to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life, as there is no definitive treatment for arthritis, but following a good treatment plan may enable the patient to control the symptoms of inflammation and reduce her joint pain to a large extent.
There are many ways to manage and treat arthritis, the most important of which are:
Treating arthritis with medication
The appropriate medication varies according to the type of inflammation, but usually, one of these medications is used:
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).
This drug group is used to relieve joint pain and reduce inflammation. One of the most common drugs in this group is ibuprofen, which is one of the most commonly used drugs as a pain reliever, with attention to some possible side effects, such as the formation of peptic ulcers. Read more about duodenal ulcer.
corticosteroids
Steroids are used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, and they work by suppressing the body's immunity, which reduces the inflammatory response and symptoms. Still, they may be associated with misused side effects without consulting a doctor.
Treatment of arthritis in women through plasma injection
Modern medicine has developed in treating joint diseases. A new treatment method has emerged by injecting human plasma extracted from the blood into the affected joint, which has proven effective in treating a wide range of joint diseases.
You can read more about Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Knee.
Surgical treatment for arthritis
In severe stages of degenerative arthritis, joint replacement surgery becomes the most appropriate option in relieving the pain of the disease and improving the patient’s quality of life, especially with knee inflammation, because Knee joint replacement surgery has become one of the most widespread and easy-to-operate surgery.
The patients can also be resorted to Physiotherapy and rehabilitation to improve range of motion and restore joint strength.
Prevention of arthritis in women
Making healthy lifestyle changes may help prevent and relieve symptoms of both rheumatoid and degenerative arthritis.
Here are the most important instructions for relieving arthritis symptoms:
- Weight loss in case of obesity
- Regular exercise that does not require carrying heavy weights
- Avoid smoking
- Apply ice packs or warm pads to the inflamed area
In the end, the symptoms of arthritis in women are prevalent. They may impact the lives of patients through severe pain, stiffness, and other symptoms, so the diagnosis of inflammation is made first by recognizing the signs and symptoms and then consulting your doctor, who will conduct and order the necessary tests to start early treatment.
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