The Link Between Sleep Apnea and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis has a variety of symptoms that can be seen throughout the progression of the disorder.  These include joint swelling, joint stiffness (which can worsen due to inactivity and during morning time), tiredness, and a high temperature, as well as weight loss.  Often times, the developing stages of rheumatoid arthritis affect the smaller joints of the body, including those attaching the fingers to the hands and the toes to the feet.  As the disorder gets worse, the pain will tend to move to joints such as knees, shoulders, ankles, elbows, hips, and wrists. With the growing pain, the majority of the symptoms will be felt on both sides of the body at the same time.

As previously stated above, rheumatoid arthritis has the capability to also affect other parts of the body.  Statistics have shown that 40 percent of those with the disorder have not experienced symptoms having to do with their joints.   Other symptoms for this form of arthritis can make an impact on the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, skin, kidneys, salivary gland, nerve tissue, bone marrow, and blood vessels.  Important factors to consider when assessing risk for rheumatoid arthritis include whether or not the individual smokes, their family history, and age, as well as their environment on a daily basis.