Is it a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis?

If your joints repeatedly become red, swollen, painful, or stiff, and are accompanied by more obvious movement problems in the morning, it may be rheumatoid arthritis, but to get a clear diagnosis you should go to the hospital for a professional examination.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that often manifests as chronic inflammation of the joints. The immune system mistakes its own joint tissues for "enemies" and launches a continuous attack. This disease is more common in middle-aged people, and the proportion of female patients is higher than that of male patients. Joint inflammation not only affects flexibility, but may also affect organs such as the heart, lungs and eyes, so early identification is important.

Symptoms usually start with small joints, such as the joints of the fingers, wrists and toes, which will feel sore and stiff. This stiffness is particularly obvious when getting up in the morning, and it usually takes half an hour or even longer to ease. Symmetry is a major feature of rheumatoid arthritis, such as joints in both hands or both knees being affected at the same time. It may also be accompanied by symptoms such as general fatigue, low fever, and weight loss. If these symptoms appear and persist for more than four to six weeks, you should be alert.

In daily life, you should exercise moderately to protect your joints, such as doing gentle exercises such as yoga or swimming. At the same time, maintain a healthy diet, such as consuming more foods rich in antioxidants, such as green leafy vegetables, fruits and nuts. Reduce the intake of high-fat and greasy foods, and you can also supplement with omega-3 fatty acids appropriately. If the symptoms do not improve or new discomfort occurs, you should seek medical attention in time to avoid worsening the condition.