Johns Hopkins Press health book.

Defining rheumatoid arthritis -- Learning about rheumatoid arthritis. The joints and rheumatoid arthritis ; The course and prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis ; Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis : why so many tests? ; Outside the joints : other symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis -- Coping with rheumatoid arthritis. Lifestyle and coping strategies ; Coping with pain and fatigue ; Coping with emotions : yours and everyone else's -- Exercises and rehabilitation. Protecting your joints ; Exercise and rheumatoid arthritis ; Specific exercises -- Medications. Meditations past, present, future ; Aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and COX-2 inhibitors ; Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) ; Biotherapies : biologics, kinase inhibitors, and a biologic medical device ; Corticosteroids ; Osteoporosis treatments -- Beyond medications : other treatments. Alternative and complementary therapies ; Nutrition : diets, nutrients, and nutritional supplements ; Surgery for rheumatoid arthritis -- Practical matters. Disability benefits, insurance, and other financial matters ; Other issues -- Closing thoughts

Describes new findings about causes and treatments, including - New research on risk factors and triggers, including pathologic bacteria in the digestive tract, smoking, and exposure to pollutants and chemicals - Lifestyle and diet modifications that can help avoid potential triggers - How stress contributes to inflammation and other symptoms - Information about new biologic disease-modifying drugs - Promising research on biomarkers that may generate a personalized approach to treatment - Remarkable gains in reducing disability, hospitalizations, and surgeries. In addition to explaining the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for people who have rheumatoid arthritis, the author offers practical strategies for coping with the pain, fatigue, and emotional toll of a chronic illness and provides new information on associated diseases such as osteoporosis, tips for finding safe and reliable information online, and information on how to get an accurate diagnosis