Rheumatoid Arthritis

  Written by: Muhammad Nasir Sirat

 

The human body has a special defense system that protects the body against germ attacks. due to various factors, sometimes the body's defense system is not working properly. The germs inside the human body cause various diseases, one of which is rheumatism. Rheumatism has two types, rheumatism heart disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. In the present program, AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some patients and a physician about rheumatoid arthritis.

Zarghona, a resident of Farza district, Kabul province says: “I am suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, I feel a severe pain in my feet and hands’ joints and could not stand up easily from my bed.”

Zarghona, a resident of Laghman province says: “I suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.  I always have pain in my hands and feet joints and am facing a lot of problems.”

Doctor Ali Ahmad Saifi, an internist, Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital, Kabul city says: “the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are, pain in hands and feet, swelling of the wrists, the joints of the fingers, elbows, ankles, and sometimes in necks' vertebrae. But sometimes, weakness, the decrease of appetite, muscle pain and tiredness could also be the seen. Usually, joint pain increases with movement or pressure on the joints, if not treated, it might cause the deformation of bones, dryness, and difficulty in the seeing and breathing and these could cause heart failure.”

Muhammad Haroon, a resident of Parwan province says that he has heard that the humidity of the home causes rheumatism.

Abdul Qadeer, a Facebook user has written on his facebook that rheumatoid arthritis might cause working on humid lands and living in a house with humidity and has no direct sun rays.

Doctor Saifi says: “The cause of rheumatism is unknown, but moisture, high pressure on joints, smoking, the inheritance mean if the mother has this problem, it transfers to his child, cold weather, damp houses, using cold water in cold weather and sometimes fast foods make the disease to increase.”

How do people treat this disease at home?

Sayeda, a resident of Shakardara district, Kabul province says: “I have rheumatoid arthritis. I always apply Vaseline to my hands and feet and I never wash my hands and feet with cold water and I use turmeric in my daily meal.”

Sayed Osman, a resident of Qarabagh district, Kabul province says: “my mother suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. She always keeps her hands and feet from cold weather and she keeps her bed and dresses under the sun rays.

Doctor Saifi says that keeping hands and feet greasy with Vaseline or

Mustard oil might reduce the pain but might not cure the disease, the patient has to visit a specialist for essential treatment.