What causes pain in the joints of hands and feet? It is probably rheumatism

If you experience pain in the joints of your hands and feet, you should be alert to rheumatism. Common causes of rheumatism are infection and endocrine disorders. Early diagnosis and treatment of rheumatism are critical. You should exercise more, keep warm, avoid cold and wind, and maintain a good attitude.

1. Causes of rheumatism

Immune response (20%):

The body's stimulation of exogenous or endogenous antigens directly or through macrophage presentation activates the corresponding T cells, and some T cells produce a large number of various inflammatory cytokines, causing varying degrees of damage or destruction to various tissues and organs; some T cells then activate B cells to produce a large number of antibodies, which directly or combine with antigens to form immune complexes, causing damage or destruction to tissues or organs. In addition, monocyte chemoattractant proteins (such as MCP-1) produced by monocytes can also participate in the inflammatory response. Most rheumatic diseases, either due to exogenous antigens produced by infection or endogenous antigens produced in the body, can initiate or aggravate this autoimmune response, and a variety of antibodies may appear in the serum.

Genetic background (10%):

Research in recent years has shown that some rheumatic diseases, especially connective tissue diseases, are closely related to genetics and patient susceptibility and disease expression, which has certain significance for early or atypical cases of the disease and prognosis; among them, HLA (human tissue leukocyte antigen) is the most important.

Infectious factors (20%):

Research over the years has shown that a variety of infectious agents, antigens or superantigens produced by microorganisms can directly or indirectly stimulate or initiate immune responses.

Endocrine factors (20%):

Studies have shown that the imbalance of estrogen and progesterone is related to the occurrence of various rheumatic diseases.

2. Prevention of rheumatism

1. Strive for early diagnosis and early treatment. Although the disease has a high disability rate, patients with joint swelling and pain can still control its development, reduce the disability rate, or even cure it as long as they remain sufficiently vigilant about the disease, receive early diagnosis and early and reasonable treatment.

2. Strengthen exercise and improve physical fitness. Regularly participate in physical exercise or productive labor to strengthen the body, improve the ability to resist disease and defend against invasion of wind, cold, dampness and other evils.

3. Avoid invasion of wind, cold and dampness. After working or exercising, patients should not take a cold bath while sweating and should not be exposed to wind. Mattresses and quilts should be washed and dried frequently to keep them clean and dry. Underwear should be changed and washed in time if it is wet with sweat. The living environment should have sufficient sunlight and good air circulation from time to time.

4. Pay attention to the combination of work and rest. Excessive fatigue can easily damage the body's vital energy, allowing wind, cold and dampness to take advantage of the opportunity to invade. Therefore, it is very important to combine work and rest, eat in moderation, have a regular daily routine, avoid overwork, and exercise and rest in moderation.

5. Maintain a normal mental state. Clinical patients have confirmed that mental stimulation, excessive sadness, depression, etc. are also important factors that induce the disease. After suffering from the disease, emotional fluctuations often make the condition worse. Therefore, maintaining a normal mental state plays an important role in maintaining the body's normal immune function.