How does arthritis affect your organs?

Answer 1

There is inflammation in your joints so if Arthritis is not slowed then it can affect other organs and systems of the body including:

· Heart: A collection of fluid around the heart from inflammation is not uncommon in rheumatoid arthritis. This usually causes only mild symptoms, if any, but it can be very severe. Rheumatoid arthritis-related inflammation can affect the heart muscle, the heart valves, or the blood vessels of the heart (coronary arteries).

· Lungs: Rheumatoid arthritis' effects on the lungs may take several forms. Fluid may collect around one or both lungs and is referred to as pleuritis. Less frequently, lung tissues may become stiff or overgrown, referred to as pulmonary fibrosis. Any of these effects can have a negative effect on breathing.

· Kidneys: The kidneys are not usually affected directly by rheumatoid arthritis. Kidney problems in rheumatoid arthritis are much more likely to be caused by medications used to treat the condition.

· Blood vessels: Inflammation of the blood vessels can cause problems in any organ but are most common in the skin, where they appear as purpura or skin ulcers.

· Blood: Anemia or "low blood" is a common complication of rheumatoid arthritis. Anemia means that you have an abnormally low number of red blood cells and that these cells are low in hemoglobin, the substance that carries oxygen through the body. (Anemia has many different causes and is by no means unique to rheumatoid arthritis.) A low white blood cell count (leukopenia) can occur from Felty's syndrome, a complication of rheumatoid arthritis that is also characterized by enlargement of the spleen.

· Eyes: The eyes commonly become dry and/or inflamed in rheumatoid arthritis. This is called Sjögren syndrome. The severity of this condition depends on which parts of the eye are affected. There are many other eye complications of rheumatoid arthritis that often require the attention of an ophthalmologist.

Answer 2

Inflammatory arthritis like RA for example can effect almost every part of the body as it is an autoimmune disease that attacks connective tissue.

Blood, anemia

Skin, The rheumatoid "nodule" usually found over bony prominences or other areas that sustain repeated mechanical stress.

Lungs, Fibrosis (stiffening) of the lungs is a response to rheumatoid disease. Rheumatoid Lung Diseaseaffects about 25% of all people diagnosed with RA.

Kidneys

renal amyloidosis is a potential side effect of RA. Treatment with Penicillamine and gold salts are also recognized causes of kidney damage.

Heart and Blood Vessels

People with RA are more prone to atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke. people with RA do not experience the same chest pain that others feel when they have angina or a heart attack. To reduce the risk, exercise and medications to reduce blood pressure and high cholesterol are critical.

Eye

The eye is directly affected in agressive RA. Dryness of eyes and mouth caused by inflammation, when severe, can cause dryness of the cornea and lead to loss of vision.

Liver

The liver may become enlarged due to an increase in the number of inflammatory cells, liver involvement in RA is essentially asymptomatic.

Neurological

numbness and tingling of hands and feet may be experienced by some people with RA. Carpal tunnel syndrome, Erosion of bones and ligaments in the cervical spine can cause vertebrae to slip over one another and compress the spinal cord. The initial symptom may be clumsiness, but without care may progress to paralysis.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis the result of a combination of factors such as immobility and inflammation. Steroid therapy used to treat RA may also be a contributing factor.

Lymphoma

The incidence of lymphoma is increased in people that have RA although it is still uncommon.

RA usually requires lifelong treatment that includes medication, physical therapy, exercise and in some times, surgery. Early, aggressive treatment for RA can delay joint destruction.

Answer 3

No not the internal organs. However skin is considered an organ so it may become red so that is how it is affected. Otherwise it is swelling and pain within the joints.

Answer 4

no