showcase 86 September 2013 www.womanthismonth.com BAHRAIN SPECIALIST HOSPITAL Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis where your joints become stiff in the morning. They might get swollen, warm and painful. It usually begins in the fingers, hands, wrists, knees and ankles. It may affect the lungs, skin and eyes as well. “Fortunately, nowadays we can diagnose this disease with simple blood tests. Treatment is then tailored for each patient,” says Dr Hadi Younis, specialist internal medicine and rheumatology. “Results are encouraging with new drugs like anti TNF alpha, ant CD20, and anti IL6 in addition to the backbone treatment, methotrexate. These drugs are capable of halting and in some cases reversing the course of the disease,” he adds. However, the doctor stresses that these drugs have to be started at the right time in the right individuals. Immediate referral to the rheumatologist is of utmost importance in cases of arthritis. “We need to start treatment with disease-modifying drugs as soon as possible and not miss the ‘window of opportunity’ for treating RA,” he advises. In addition, doctors have to ‘treat to target’, ie. they have to minimise the ongoing inflammatory process in the joint before it is too late. Luckily, all these new drugs as well as a highly specialised centre for physical rehabilitation are available in Bahrain Specialist Hospital. It is very important to visit a specialised doctor in case of any suspected arthritis as soon as possible before joint damage starts. Call 17 812-000. Joint pains have become a source of major concern worldwide. It is estimated that up to 30 per cent of the world’s population have one form of arthritis or another. Dr Hadi Younis In your Bones
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