According to the Arthritis Foundation, an estimated 1.3 American’s suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis. Impacting 2.5 times more women than men, RA usually occurs during middle age however, it can occur at any age and will often appear in people between the ages of 20 and 40. RA affects many parts of the body including not just joints but also organs including skin, heart and lungs as well.
A common misnomer is that RA is just like other “regular arthritis”. While it does affect the joints causing pain and stiffness like osteoarthritis, it is much different in that it is not caused by injury or age but is actually an autoimmune disease which is chronic and progressive and can flare up or cause continuous pain depending on the person.
While some people with RA may live a relatively normal life for a time, not getting treatment can pose significant threats to your health and way of life. To protect joints and preserve their long term function, proper diagnosis and treatment is the key.
A dangerous myth is that treatment for RA may be more harmful than the disease itself causing some people to delay getting treatment. Like many diseases, treatments may sometimes have side effects however, delaying treatment for conditions which progress is not a decision that we should make on our own. To find out the right course of action for your RA, contact a qualified rheumatologist right away.
Rheumatologist Northville MI
Recognizing a need for a qualified rheumatologist in southern Michigan, Dr. Dowd founded the Arthritis Institute of Michigan in 1998. Located in Brighton MI, the Institute is only around 30 miles from Northville. Treating a variety of diseases and conditions including rheumatic conditions as well as inflammatory diseases and vitamin D deficiencies, we are accepting new patients. To find out more about our services or to set up an appointment, contact us 810.225.7553 or online here.