How is rheumatoid arthritis treated?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease primarily characterized by symmetric polyarthritis and involving multiple systems throughout the body. The treatment goals are to relieve symptoms, control disease activity, prevent joint destruction, maintain function, and improve quality of life. The following are some treatment methods that can be employed:

1. General treatment: Enhance nutrition, ensure adequate rest, and avoid excessive fatigue and cold exposure.

2. Psychological therapy: Develop a correct understanding of the disease, build confidence, actively cooperate with treatment, and avoid excessive reliance on medications or negative emotions.

3. Exercise therapy: Encourage patients to perform appropriate rehabilitative exercises, such as stretching, endurance training, and balance exercises, to enhance joint flexibility and strength.

4. Physical therapy: Includes heat application, cold application, massage, and electrotherapy, which can alleviate joint pain and stiffness and promote recovery of joint function.

5. Pharmacological therapy: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) help relieve pain and inflammation but do not alter disease progression and are suitable for short-term symptom control. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as methotrexate and sulfasalazine, can suppress immune responses and slow disease progression. Early use of DMARDs can significantly improve prognosis. Biologic agents, targeting specific immune factors such as TNF-α inhibitors and IL-6 inhibitors, are effective for patients who do not respond to or are intolerant of conventional DMARDs. Glucocorticoids may be used short-term to rapidly control inflammation, but long-term use should be cautious due to significant side effects.