Rheumatology in North Carolina, Durham

Rheumatic Diseases

Rheumatic diseases often occur with local or systemic lesions of the joints and connective tissue. Rheumatologist deals with the following diseases:

• Rheumatic heart disease;
• Systemic scleroderma;
• Rheumatic fever;
• Arthritis;
• Vasculitis;
• Systemic lupus erythematosus;
• Osteoporosis;
• Ankylosing spondylitis;
• Polymyalgia rheumatica;
• Raynaud's phenomenon;
• Polymyositis, dermatomyositis;
• Deforming osteoarthritis;
• Erythema nodosum.

The most common ones:

• Rheumatism - inflammatory disease with a primary lesion of the heart;
• Systemic vasculitis - Inflammatory diseases with a primary lesion blood vessels (pulmonary-renal syndrome, aorto arteritis, temporal arteritis, periarteritis nodosa, microscopic polyarteritis, thromboangiitis obliterans, Wegener's granulomatosis, a hemorrhagic vasculitis);
• Diffuse connective tissue disease - immunoinflammatory diseases with an autoimmune connective tissue disorders of various systems of the body (systemic scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, Sjogren's disease, mixed connective tissue disease);
• Joint diseases - inflammatory disease with a primary lesion joints (ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, arthritis, gout).

When to see a Specialist

The unifying factor for all rheumatological diseases are the inflammatory processes and the weakening of the immune system. There are a number of signs at a constant (for 1-2 weeks) the presence of which is an urgent need to consult a physician-rheumatologist:

• Pain, swelling in the muscles and joints;
• The appearance of nodules under the cover of the skin;
• The appearance of a mesh pattern on the body;
• Swelling, redness and swelling of the ears;

• Stiffness in the back;
• Elevated body temperature for several days;
• Feeling of warmth when you touch the joint compared to surrounding tissues;
• Weakness of the limbs, joint aches, muscle pain;
• Recently transferred acute intestinal, infection urogenital, not passing redness of the cheeks and forehead;
• Broken bones, a violation of their growth;
• Appearance of stretch marks on the skin (if there was no previous pregnancy or weight loss);
• Severe headache, with a clear localization (especially when combined with weakness, sweating, subfebrile temperature);
• Swelling of the arteries on temples;
• Unnatural color of the skin as a result of hypothermia;
• Coldness of extremities.

Tips Rheumatologist 

Prevention consists in varied and balanced diet, a physically active lifestyle, avoiding prolonged overcooling harsh and heavy physical exertion and injury.

Is necessary to watch for posture and proper fit, to carry out the correction of flat feet, to engage in a special exercise to strengthen the muscles and ligaments, swimming. Is necessary to monitor the body weight, regular alternation of loading and unloading joints.

During the working day should be avoided fixed positions, often moving. In spring and winter, do not be amiss to take vitamins and amino acid complexes. With regard to the food, then there are a lot of advice. It is necessary to reduce the consumption of vegetable oils and margarine, as they can enhance the inflammation of the joints. In the food need to be included vegetable juices - carrot, celery, cabbage.

Separately it is necessary draw on the recommendations of Rheumatology, which must adhere the patients with rheumatic diseases:

• Necessary to limit in a food allowance the intake of boiled products - a combination of fresh and raw should be in the ratio of 1 to 3;
• To limit the consumption of poultry, meat, fish and animal fat to 1 - 2 times per week;
• Drink up to three liters of water a day;
• Taking contrast baths, but not to overdo it;
• More to be outdoors and move more.

Currently, there are so many folk recipes from rheumatic diseases, but remember that need to defeat the disease at an early stage, otherwise the disease will become chronic, and every year more and more will be hitting the joints and body systems, leading to disability. Do not postpone your visit to the rheumatologist - take care of your health.