By Lilian Owusu-Mensah
The Internal Medicine Resident at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Bernard Offoe Tetteh, has stated that women are more prone to Rheumatoid Arthritis because women tend to release loads of estrogen during their productive years and the estrogen makes the immune system very active.
He disclosed that Arthritis is quite a common disease, as Health Centers often record many cases with conditions of joint pain and swellings. About 10 cases are seen weekly, according to Dr. Tetteh who said that females are often in the majority of the cases seen at the facilities.
“It’s quite common because we see a lot of patients in our clinics…most people come with conditions like joint pain, joint swelling and it’s attributed to certain things. On a weekly basis we can see about 10 cases. It affects more women than men to a ratio of 3:1”, he opined.
Dr. Tetteh made this point on the GTV Breakfast Show, while discussing Rheumatoid Arthritis as part of the World Rheumatoid Arthritis Day which falls on 2nd February every year. He said the condition is part of the family of autoimmune diseases.
“Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune condition which falls under the family of autoimmune diseases. These are diseases in which the body does not recognize the organs as part of itself and forms antibodies that affect these organs and destroy them. So, it’s like healthy organs are being affected by these antibodies. The antibodies attack and destroy the joints or the synovium-connected tissue lining that covers the joints”, he stated.
He however stated that the disease is also common among the aged.
“As one ages the ratio turns to equalize and usually it’s about 60yrs’’, he said.
He further stated that the causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis are unknown.
“Currently there are no known cause, but there are a lot of speculations and theories out there that talk about the fact that you can have people who have genetic susceptibility to getting autoimmune conditions and then there is a trigger that comes in which can be in a form of infection, trauma or certain environmental factors or hormonal factors”, he disclosed.
He stated that the one ecological factor Doctors are mostly concerned about is smoking which puts one in a dangerous position to acquire the condition.
“The single environmental factor we are looking at is smoking. Smoking increases your risk of developing Rheumatoid Arthritis, that is, if you have the genetic susceptibility as well”, according to Dr. Tetteh.
Watch the full interview below;
