What’s it like living with rheumatoid arthritis? The challenges you face
Living with rheumatoid arthritis means dealing daily with a chronic, autoimmune inflammatory disease that primarily affects the joints. This condition is more common among women (a 3-4:1 female-to-male ratio) between the ages of 40 and 60. Unfortunately, rheumatoid arthritis can develop at any time in life, even in childhood.
Living with rheumatoid arthritis
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Life expectancy with rheumatoid arthritis
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It can cause disability
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Physical exercise
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The diet
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Famous people with rheumatoid arthritis
Life expectancy with rheumatoid arthritis
Life with rheumatoid arthritis isn’t easy. It’s a silent companion that can accompany you throughout your life, sometimes significantly complicating it. There is good news, however. Life expectancy for this disease has improved because the mortality rate has dropped significantly over the last decade, despite it still being associated with premature death due to complications that can arise, especially cardiovascular ones. This is thanks to new therapies and treatment regimens, which allow for early diagnosis and prompt treatment.
Rheumatoid arthritis is the most severe of the osteoarticular diseases , causing structural damage to the joints and bones. What’s the main problem? The inflammation isn’t always localized and can spread to blood vessels , muscles, lungs, kidneys, heart, central and peripheral nervous systems, vision, and the blood-forming system. Consequently, people don’t die from rheumatoid arthritis , but from all the complications that may arise during the disease. And then there’s a rapidly evolving, much more aggressive form, which worsens patients’ quality of life.
It can cause disability
Rheumatoid arthritis can cause disability because it causes deformity and pain, which can even lead to loss of joint function. It can become a major obstacle to daily life. How? Brushing your hair or buttoning your shirt can become extremely difficult, as can carrying out your job, especially if it involves using your hands (from surgeons to tailors), or taking care of your home. In Italy, approximately 25% of patients are unable to enjoy their free time due to the disease and experience difficulties at work, and 4% are completely disabled.
Early rheumatoid arthritis causes premature anatomical damage . The result? It’s associated with greater disability and higher mortality from non-articular manifestations, with a 3- to 10-year survival rate. When can you apply for disability? You become disabled when your working capacity is reduced by more than 33%. In this case, you can apply for disability benefits and practical and financial assistance (which may also include exemption from healthcare costs).
