Rheumatoid Arthritis

 Written by: Muhammad Nasir Sirat

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that its pain and problems increase in cold weather and usually affect aged people.

The disease affects the bones, joints, the tissue, and causes the joints to swell or dry out. If the patients do not pay attention to this problem, it would cause more serious problems.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some patients and a physician about this disease.

Nasrin says, “I am suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and my health condition is not good. I had a surgical operation of my ankles and joints; my wrists are not working properly; I can't lift anything. My pain increases when the weather gets cold.”

Maliha, a resident of Parwan province says, “I am suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. My hand broke due to rheumatoid and I always suffer from my joints pain.”

Doctor Haris Arif, an orthopedist at Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital, Kabul city says, “If rheumatoid arthritis patients do not pay attention to their health in cold weather; if they do not wear warm clothes and wash clothes with cold water or live in damp rooms, it would cause the increasing of their pain and might cause to lose any of their hand or foot.”

How do rheumatoid arthritis patients prevent the progress of this disease?

Ajmal, a resident of Shakardara district, Kabul province says, “My wife is suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Before we were living in a damp room and she was had more pain from her sickness and recently we shifted to a new house. This house has plenty of suns. We use warm clothes and warm water in winter. We keep our room warm in the winter. I do not let my wife lift a heavyweight and also pay attention to her foods and I do not let her eat more.”

Shabana, a resident of Maidan-Wardak says, “I am suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. When the weather gets cold, I try to put on warm clothes. I use warm water for washing clothes, bathing, and ablution. When the sun rises, I apply olive oil to my joints and expose them for a few minutes to the sunlight and I don’t need to go to the doctor.”