Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of autoimmune disorder that would cause the immune system to mistakenly attack tissues in your body. This leads to a lot of inflammation and damage to different areas, such as blood vessels, heart, lungs, eyes, and skin. Early detection and treatment can be important to help you prevent severe complications in the future. In the next sections, we will show you some common diagnostic techniques and treatment options for people with rheumatoid arthritis.
1Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis
Physical Exam
Similar to other health conditions, the first step in a diagnostic process of rheumatoid arthritis is often a physical exam. The main goal is to check for your exact symptoms, such as swelling and joint pain. This can be important in differentiating rheumatoid arthritis from similar issues, especially osteoarthritis. The doctor would ask you a series of questions related to your symptoms, daily tasks, family history, and previous treatments. Make sure to prepare the answers at home before the appointment to save time. Based on the collected information, the doctor will decide which test to take next for verification. [1]
