6) Depression
Depression is the least common symptom among the previously mentioned ones. Rheumatoid arthritis patients are mostly unable to do their daily activities properly due to joint pain and stiffness therefore they may experience a change in behavior and loss of interest. Physical and mental conditions are significantly correlated so patients with RA are twice more likely to develop neuropsychiatric symptoms.
- Untreated rheumatoid arthritis will not only cause joint pain and dysfunction but also it will affect other organs leading to systemic diseases. it is said, with no clear evidence, that smoking and drinking alcohol may relieve joint pain and reduce its stiffness. The earlier you manage arthritis, the easier it will be treated. Late staged rheumatoid arthritis is much harder to be treated and occasionally leads to limited choices of treatment. Statistics show that uncontrolled rheumatoid arthritis increase mortality rate, they also show that cardiovascular diseases and secondary infections are the most common cause of death of RA patients.
