Understanding Psoriatic Arthritis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
Psoriatic arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis that affects up to 30 percent of people with psoriasis. It is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation and pain in the joints, muscles, and tendons. While there is no cure for psoriatic arthritis, treatments can help manage symptoms and reduce inflammation. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatments of this condition can help those affected to better manage their condition.
Causes:
The exact cause of psoriatic arthritis is unknown but it is believed to be caused by an overactive immune system that triggers an inflammatory response in the body. This response leads to swelling and pain in the joints as well as other areas such as tendons and muscles. People with a family history of psoriasis or other autoimmune conditions are more likely to develop psoriatic arthritis than those without this history.
Symptoms:
The most common symptom of psoriatic arthritis is joint pain which may be accompanied by stiffness or swelling in one or more joints. Other symptoms include fatigue, fever, weight loss, eye irritation (uveitis), nail changes (pitting or thickening), skin rashes (psoriasis) on any part of the body including scalp, hands or feet as well as enthesitis (pain where tendons attach to bones).
Treatments:
Treatment for psoriatic arthritis focuses on reducing inflammation and managing pain levels so that patients can live comfortable lives without their symptoms interfering with daily activities. Treatment options may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate, biologic drugs such as Enbrel or Humira which target specific parts of the immune system involved in causing inflammation , corticosteroids for short-term relief from severe flares , physical therapy exercises to improve joint mobility , lifestyle modifications such as avoiding triggers like smoking or stress , dietary changes like eating a balanced diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids . In some cases surgery may be needed if joint damage becomes severe enough .
Overall understanding what causes Psoriatic Arthritis along with its associated symptoms and treatments can help those affected better manage their condition so they can live healthy lives despite having this chronic disease .
Tags:
Psoriatic Arthritis,
Inflammatory Arthritis,
Immune System,
Joint Pain,
Stiffness,
Swelling,
Fatigue,
Fever,
Weight Loss,
Uveitis,
Nail Changes (Pitting/Thickening),
Skin Rashes (Psoriasis),
Enthesitis (Pain),
NSAIDs,
DMARDs (Methotrexate),
Biologic Drugs (Enbrel/Humira),
Corticosteroids,
Physical Therapy Exercises,
Lifestyle Modifications,
Dietary Changes,
Omega-3 Fatty Acids,
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