Get rid of misconceptions to effectively control rheumatic diseases
In outpatient clinics, we often encounter some rheumatic patients who have serious deformities in their hands and feet without formal treatment and cannot take care of themselves. Here, we will talk about some knowledge about rheumatic diseases, so that people can get out of the misunderstanding of treating rheumatic diseases.
Myth No. 1: If you live in a cold, humid place, you will get rheumatic diseases. Outpatient clinics often encounter certain patients who say that they live in a humid environment and that they have recently felt generalized aches and pains and are particularly worried that they are suffering from rheumatic diseases. The doctor conducted a detailed examination of the woman and did not find any swollen joints and the test results were normal. In fact, the cold and damp environment is a factor that aggravates the symptoms of rheumatism patients, but not the onset of rheumatism. At present, the pathogenesis of the majority of rheumatic diseases is not clear, mostly related to autoimmune disorders. Therefore, cold and humid living environment does not necessarily suffer from rheumatic diseases. Pan Wenping, Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shandong Qianfo Mountain Hospital
Myth 2: Children of patients with rheumatic diseases will definitely suffer from rheumatic diseases. In fact, patients do not need to worry too much about their children will be sick. The offspring of rheumatic disease patients have a higher chance of getting sick than the general population, but it does not mean that the offspring of rheumatic disease patients will all get sick. Human genetic inheritance is polygenic, in addition to the existence of mutations, the chances of genetic disease is much smaller.
The rheumatoid factor (RF) is one of the most important serological indicators for the diagnosis of rheumatoid joints, but it is not the only criterion, because 5% of normal people can be positive for RF, and the rate of positivity increases with age. liver cirrhosis, diffuse interstitial lung fibrosis, etc.), so RF is not specific for rheumatoid arthritis and must be combined with clinical symptoms to determine its significance, do not. Often, once you see a high rheumatoid factor, you are considered to have rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid factor and blood sedimentation, C-reactive protein are indicators of rheumatoid arthritis activity, but sometimes they do not parallel clinical symptoms. Sometimes the laboratory indicators lag behind the improvement of joint symptoms, or do not return to normal levels for a long time. This is because laboratory indicators are influenced by a variety of factors other than the disease itself. It is not scientific for some patients to pay too much attention to the indexes and to lower the laboratory indexes rather than the control of joint inflammation as the main purpose of treatment.
Misconception four bias, blind medication, delaying formal treatment. The important feature of many rheumatic diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, etc.) is the remission of the disease, alternating episodes, which tells us that rheumatic diseases can not be “eradicated”. As long as long-term standardized treatment under the guidance of a regular hospital physician, these rheumatic diseases can stop the development of the disease, so that the symptoms are relieved for a long time. However, it is never “lifelong non-recurrence” as people usually understand. Therefore, rheumatism patients must have the psychological preparation for long-term treatment and the confidence and courage to overcome the disease, and remember to seek effective treatment at regular hospitals.
In today’s society, many people take advantage of patients’ psychology of “seeking medical help when sick” and boast that prescriptions can eradicate the disease, which, after being taken by many patients, leads to the destruction and deformity of patients’ joints, which is heartbreaking.
Chinese medicine treatment can indeed improve certain symptoms of patients, such as fear of wind and cold in the joints, but it can never replace Western medicine treatment. The combined application of Chinese and Western medicine can better control rheumatic diseases.
In recent years, with the progress of research in molecular biology, biological agents with clear targeting, such as tumor necrosis factor antagonists, have been approved by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis, and have been marketed for clinical use in China. Compared with traditional therapeutic drugs, these biologics can quickly and effectively control the disease and stop its development, which has become a revolution and milestone breakthrough in the history of rheumatic disease treatment and has brought gospel to the majority of rheumatic disease patients.