Patient/caregiver was educated on the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis as follows:
Morning stiffness
- Morning stiffness is a hallmark sign of rheumatoid arthritis. Individuals experience stiffness in the joints when they wake up in the morning or after prolonged periods of inactivity.
- The stiffness progressively resolves as the day progresses and activity builds up.
- The duration of stiffness can vary depending on the severity of inflammation. In severely inflamed joints, the stiffness could last longer before it eases out.
Warmth and redness
- Chemicals from the white cells and damaged joint tissues can contribute to relaxation and dilation of blood vessels in and around the joint, resulting in more blood flow to the joint.
- Increased blood flow results in warmth and redness to the involved joint.
Swelling
- Chemicals released as part of inflammatory process contribute to relaxation and dilation of blood vessels in and around the joint, resulting in more blood flow to the joint.
- Dilation of blood vessels can also lead to increased leakage of fluid from the blood vessels. This increased leakage of fluid combined with fluid leaked out of damaged joint tissues lead to excessive swelling.
