| Pleurisy, also called pleuritis, is an | | | | (synovium) causing swelling that can result |
| inflammation of the pleura. Pleurisy can be | | | | in aching and throbbing and eventually |
| generated by a variety of infectious and | | | | deformity. Sometimes rheumatoid arthritis |
| non-infectious causes. Pleurisy is caused by | | | | symptoms make even the simplest activities - |
| swelling and irritation of the membrane that | | | | such as opening a jar or taking a walk - |
| surrounds the lungs. Certain autoimmune | | | | difficult to manage. Rheumatoid arthritis is |
| diseases (such as systemic lupus | | | | two to three times more common in women than |
| erythematosus) can irritate the pleura. It is | | | | in men and generally occurs between the ages |
| usually a symptom of another illness. It is | | | | of 40 and 60. But rheumatoid arthritis can |
| also called Pleuritic Chest Pain. Pleurisy | | | | also affect young children and older adults. |
| can develop from many things, including | | | | It is commonly polyarticular; that is, it |
| bacterial or viral infections of the lungs | | | | affects many joints. |
| (such as pneumonia), TB, lupus, chest injury | | | | |
| or trauma, a blood clot in the lung, or | | | | About seventy-five percent of those affected |
| cancer. Sometimes a cause cannot be found. | | | | are women, and 1-3% of women may develop |
| The effects of pleurisy can often be felt | | | | rheumatoid arthritis is their lifetime. The |
| long after the condition has gone away.The | | | | disease most often begins between the fourth |
| hallmark of pleurisy is severe chest pain | | | | and sixth decades of life; however, RA can |
| that starts suddenly. | | | | develop at any age. RA usually affects joints |
| | | | on both sides of the body equally. Wrists, |
| The pain is often strong or stabbing when you | | | | fingers, knees, feet, and ankles are the most |
| take a deep breath. It usually subsides or | | | | commonly affected.Rheumatoid arthritis is two |
| disappears between breaths. It's usually felt | | | | to three times more common in women than in |
| on one side of the stomach area or lower | | | | men and generally occurs between the ages of |
| chest. Deep breathing and coughing often make | | | | 40 and 60. But rheumatoid arthritis can also |
| it worse. Pleurisy causes fluid to collect | | | | affect young children and older adults. |
| inside the lung area. Breathing may be rapid | | | | Inflammation, soft tissue swelling, and the |
| and shallow because deep breathing induces | | | | involvement of multiple joints are common |
| pain; the muscles on the painful side move | | | | signs and symptoms that distinguish |
| less than those on the other side. When an | | | | rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis |
| accumulation of fluids (pleural effusion) is | | | | from non-inflammatory arthritis such as |
| associated with pleurisy, the pain usually | | | | osteoarthritis. |
| disappears because the fluid serves as a | | | | |
| lubricant. Treatment depends on what is | | | | Treatments include medicine, lifestyle |
| causing the pleurisy. Bacterial infections | | | | changes and surgery. These can slow or stop |
| are treated with antibiotics. | | | | joint damage and reduce pain and swelling. To |
| | | | quickly reduce joint inflammation and |
| Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory form | | | | symptoms, first-line treatment usually |
| of arthritis that causes joint pain and | | | | consists of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory |
| damage. It affecting more than two million | | | | drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin and |
| people in the United States. Rheumatoid | | | | others), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), |
| arthritis attacks the lining of your joints | | | | celecoxib (Celebrex) and many others. |