World Arthritis Day: Role of Pathology Tests in Early Diagnosis

Introduction

Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more joints with symptoms such as pain and swelling. It can be caused due to overuse of the joints, normal wear and tear, autoimmune diseases, etc. There is no cure for the problem, and the treatment options usually include lifestyle management and medication for the management of the inflammation. World Arthritis Day is celebrated on 12th October each year to bring awareness to the painful condition and the benefits of early diagnosis. In this article, learn about the importance of early diagnosis and how blood tests can support the detection of arthritis.

Signs of Arthritis

Arthritis tends to have some common symptoms. The following are the signs of arthritis –

• Pain: There is a dull soreness and sometimes even a burning sensation in one or more joints. 
• Stiffness: This is usually felt most prominently during the morning time or post rest. However, this improves through the day with movement.
• Swelling: There is inflammation and visible swelling in or around the joint areas. The joints can appear to be puffy and feel very tender upon touch.
• Redness: It is possible that the skin around the inflamed areas can appear to be red.
• Limited motion: One may not be able to use the joints fully, such as being able to bend the joints or use them completely for day to day activities.
• Fatigue: Some individuals also tend to experience tiredness and exhaustion.

Importance of Early Diagnosis

In cases related to arthritis, early diagnosis is important. Joint structure can be preserved with the help of early diagnosis and treatment. By treating conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) early through early diagnosis, inflammation can be suppressed with the help of medications. This is important to ensure the immune system does not attack and destroy joint cartilage and bones. Therefore, to prevent irreversible damage to the joints, early diagnosis is the key.

Furthermore, early diagnosis is also important to ensure better joint movement through appropriate management of lifestyle, eating habits, and exercise. Through early management, one can prevent the chances of future surgery and ensure joint mobility is maintained. Early diagnosis is possible through blood tests as well as imaging tests (such as X-rays). MedCab offers home sample collection options for blood tests related to arthritis. Book your blood tests in case symptoms of arthritis are visible to ensure early treatment and management is made possible.

Blood Tests for Arthritis

Blood tests are the key to early diagnosis of arthritis. A number of blood tests may be recommended by your medical consultant for the diagnosis of arthritis. Depending on your symptoms, different blood tests can be recommended as mentioned below –

• Inflammatory Markers: These tests indicate inflammation in the body, which is a sign of many forms of arthritis. The tests include CRP and ESR or sed rate test.
• Autoantibody Tests: These are tests for finding specific proteins (autoantibodies) that are produced by the immune system of the body. These proteins attack the body's own tissues and can cause autoimmune arthritis. These tests include the Rheumatoid Factor test, the Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) test, and the Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies test. Conditions such as Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis can be detected with these tests.
• Complete Blood Count: This blood test may be advised to assess if one has anemia. Anaemia is common in RA. Also, side effects of medications on bone marrow, such as low white blood cell or platelet counts, can be assessed with these tests.

Arthritis Blood Tests with MedCab

MedCab provides excellent, rapid sample collection services at budget prices. Our sample collection professional will reach the location of your choosing, be it home or office. Avoid crowded areas and the risk of infections in pathology labs by choosing MedCab’s blood sample collection services from the convenience of your home. Some of the package deals offered by MedCab for Arthritis and bone health include the following –

• MedCab Bone Health Care: package includes a variety of tests such as Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Calcium, C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Quantitative, Phosphorus, Rheumatoid Factor (RF), Quantitative test and other 5 parameters.

• MedCab Arthritis Care – Advance: Advance package includes a variety of tests, such as CBC Profile, Urine Profile, RBS, LFT, KFT, ESR, CRP, Phosphorus, Rheumatoid Factor, Vitamin B12, Iron Studies, Calcium, Vitamin D test and  75 parameters.

• MedCab Arthritis Care – Basic: Basic package includes a variety of tests such as Anti Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide (Anti CCP) antibodies, CBC Profile, ESR, Kidney Function Test (KFT), Liver Function Test (LFT), Rheumatoid Factor (RF) Quantitative, Vitamin D 25 Hydroxy test and 46 parameters.

• MedCab Bone Health Package: Package includes a variety of tests such as Complete Blood Count (CBC), Vitamin D, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), RA Factor, C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Phosphorus Serum, Anti-CCP, Uric Acid Serum, Vitamin B12, Anti-Nuclear Antibody (ANA), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Calcium Serum test and 33 parameters.

On this World Arthritis Day, take a step forward in the direction of your health and book any of these packages for blood tests in case of visible symptoms of Arthritis.

Conclusion

Arthritis is a painful condition that severely impacts the quality of life of the individual. World Arthritis Day brings awareness to the masses about the impact of the condition. Furthermore, early diagnosis can help tremendously with treatments. This is why early diagnosis through blood tests and medical consultations is important in case symptoms are visible. MedCab offers cost-effective packages for the management of arthritis. Book a blood test for Arthritis with MedCab and get your blood sample collected at the convenience of your home.

Download the MedCab Mobile App:  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.medcab.consumer&hl=en_IN

Learn More About MedCab’s Pathology Services: https://medcab.in/blog-detail/medcabs-pathology-services-home-sample-collection-made-easy