Rheumatism, also known as rheumatoid arthritis, is a condition that is more predominant in women than men, and it usually strikes individuals sometime between 40 and 60 years of age. However, men can get rheumatism too, and it can occur before the age of 40 and after the age of 60. And although the medical community does understand the physical process that leads to the condition of rheumatism (white blood cells going awry), they do not know exactly what prompts this process to actually occur in the body in the first place.
White Blood Cells' Role in Rheumatism
The purpose of white blood cells in the human body is to fight off any virus or bacteria that attempt to attack our body. Generally, that's just what they do, as they float in our blood throughout the body. However, when white blood cells wander out of the bloodstream--and enter the membranes around the joints (known as the synovium)--they create the condition known as rheumatism. So instead of fighting off foreign invaders in our blood, as they are supposed to, these wandering white blood cells begin to irritate the membrane lining around the joints instead.
The Immune System's Role
Our immune system is a fine-tuned machine, and it works in perfect harmony with other systems within the human body--if each part is in its proper place and performing as expected. But when one area of our body is suddenly faced with an unexpected "visitor" from another part (where none should be), our immune system responds accordingly. In the case of rheumatism, it responds by creating inflammation in the joint area.
The Role of Inflammation and Protein
Unfortunately in this case, that inflammation, in turn, prompts the dispensing of protein to the membrane site (the synovium) that surrounds the joint. This protein is dispensed in an effort to further insulate the threatened joint against the "unexpected visitor" (the white blood cells). This protein attempts to protect the joint by thickening the synovium membrane around the joint.
How Protein and Synovium Thickening Cause Rheumatism
The dispersal of protein and its role in the thickening process of the synovium--meant to be a safeguard for the joint--will eventually lead to the deterioration (rheumatism) and destruction of the joint altogether. This is because continued thickening of the synovium (with protein) actually eats away at the bone of the joint over a period of time (months or years), as well as creating deformity in the joint's shape.
Genes: Do They Play a Role in Causing Rheumatism?
While doctors do not believe that a person can inherit the condition of rheumatoid arthritis, according to the Mayo Clinic, they do believe that heredity may play somewhat of a role in a person being predisposed to the medical condition.
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