Patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Considerations for daily life
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex, multi-system autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory damage to the joints, which is caused by the interaction of congenital genetic factors and acquired environmental factors. In daily life, many bad habits are the cause of RA and are also factors that aggravate the condition. Among them, the most important ones to pay attention to are infections, smoking, vitamin D deficiency, anxiety, obesity, etc.
1. Infection
Microbial infections are closely related to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, including bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma, etc. Among infections, there are three types of particular concern:
One is periodontitis caused by Porphyromonas gingivals, and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis in patients with periodontitis is 1.97 times higher than that in people without periodontitis;
The second is intestinal dysbiosis, more and more studies have found that the onset of rheumatoid arthritis is related to intestinal dysbiosis, and adjusting the intestinal flora through probiotics has the effect of reducing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis;
The third is streptococcal infection, such as upper respiratory tract infection, tonsillitis, pneumonia, etc., which can easily induce rheumatoid arthritis attacks. It is necessary to take precautions against infection in daily life.
2. Smoking
Smoking not only increases the risk of rheumatoid arthritis, but is also a risk factor for vasculitis and interstitial lung disease, which are serious complications of rheumatoid arthritis, which are the leading causes of rheumatoid death.
Rheumatoid patients are mostly female, and female smokers are rare, but it is important to stay away from secondhand smoke, which is also very harmful.
3. Diet
In terms of diet, excessive intake of red meat and salt is a dangerous cause of rheumatoid arthritis. Moderate alcohol consumption, fruits and vitamin C, olive oil, cooked vegetables, mushrooms, legumes, poultry, and dairy products are thought to have a protective effect against RA. A balanced intake of a variety of foods, including dietary fiber, is important for maintaining a variety of gut microbiota and reducing metabolic and inflammatory risks.
In addition, people with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis, which is related to the immune-modulating effect of vitamin D. In real life, vitamin D deficiency is very common, especially women, who often regard white as beauty, do not want to bask in the sun, and often use parasols and sunscreen. In fact, sun exposure is the best way to replenish vitamin D, and 90% of our body's vitamin D is produced by ultraviolet rays from the skin through sun exposure. For older patients and those with strict sun protection, their ability to synthesize vitamin D is greatly reduced, and vitamin D supplementation should be considered.
Fourth, emotions
RA is related to its own psychological factors. People who have been emotionally stimulated or depressed for a long time have a significantly higher chance of developing rheumatoid arthritis than normal people, and people who are already sick are more likely to have seizures after being mentally stimulated, indicating that the disease is related. Therefore, RA patients should pay attention to maintaining a good mood and reducing anxiety, depression and other emotions, which is conducive to recovery.
5. Residential environment
Living or working in a cold and humid environment for a long time may lead to the onset or aggravation of rheumatoid arthritis, before and after the spring and autumn equinoxes in spring or autumn every year, the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis is very high, one reason is that the air humidity is high during this period, the temperature difference between day and night is large, which is suitable for microbial reproduction, and patients are prone to infection, and the other reason is that such an environment may stimulate the immune system of the whole body, resulting in patients being prone to disease. Therefore, patients with RA should be kept dry and warm.
In addition, the inhalation of silica, asbestos and textile dust is associated with the occurrence of RA and needs to be avoided.
6. Exercise
People with RA certainly can't exercise like healthy people because there is inflammation and lesions within the joints, which can worsen inflammation and damage if exercised too much or too much. However, patients with rheumatoid arthritis should not lack exercise, which will further increase joint adhesions and contractures, and make the loss of joint function faster. Therefore, rheumatoid patients must monitor rehabilitation exercises under the guidance of a doctor, mainly arthrophiles to stretch the joints.
7. Obesity
Studies have shown that the risk of RA is increased in overweight and obese women, especially in women diagnosed with RA at an early stage, and obesity can also aggravate the weight bearing of knee joints and hip joints in RA patients, resulting in osteoarthritis, so RA patients need to pay attention to weight control.
RA patients need to cooperate well with doctors, follow up and review regularly, and pay attention to lifestyle adjustments to avoid aggravating and predisposing factors, so as to achieve sustainable remission of the disease.
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Bibliography:
1.Finckh A, Gilbert B, Hodkinson B, et al. Global epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis[J]. Nature Reviews,2022,18:591-602.
2.Petrovská N, Prajzlerová K, Vencovský J, Šenolt L, Filková M. The pre-clinical phase of rheumatoid arthritis: From risk factors to prevention of arthritis. Autoimmun Rev. 2021 May; 20(5):102797.
Author: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology
Layout: Huang Yining
Review: Zhang Jianyu
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