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Writer's pictureLisa Chadsey
Apr 7, 2022

Rheumatoid Arthritis & Autoimmune Disorders




Hello everyone! This April, I want to talk more about different Autoimmune Disorders.


Now, you might be asking, what exactly is an autoimmune disorder? This is what we use to describe when your body's immune system mistakenly attacks your own tissues due to a breakdown in your body's normal functioning. Basically, your body is fighting against itself.



What is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)?


Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that primarily affects people’s joints and overall mobility. This can expand to impact other body systems including the heart, blood vessels, lungs, skin, and eyes.


“Unlike the wear-and-tear damage of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity.” (Article 4.)


What is the goal of treating Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)?


It’s important to see the symptoms of these disorders so you can be proactive and help those in your life get pain relief and knowledge with how they can manage their lives around it. We want to reduce the degeneration of tissues to prevent further joint damage while also bringing back as much mobility as possible. The better your quality of life is, the happier you will be!



What are some of the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis?


Information referenced from Multi Radiance Medical Article 1.


Symptoms may vary depending on the type of arthritis the patient has; the most common symptoms patients experience are:

  • Tender & swollen joints

  • Joint stiffness (this is more noticeable in the mornings and after periods of immobility)

  • Fatigue, fever and loss of appetite

  • Aching

  • Decreased range of motion

  • Pain

  • Redness


About 40% of people who have rheumatoid arthritis experience symptoms in other areas of their bodies. These areas may include:

  • Skin

  • Eyes

  • Lungs

  • Heart

  • Kidneys

  • Salivary glands

  • Nerve tissue

  • Bone marrow

  • Blood vessels


Here are some Risk factors for Rheumatoid Arthritis:


Information referenced from Mayo Clinic, Article 1.

  • Your gender - Women are more likely than men to develop rheumatoid arthritis.

  • Your age - Rheumatoid arthritis most commonly begins in middle age.

  • Your family history - If a member of your family has rheumatoid arthritis, you may have an increased risk of the disease.

  • Lifestyle - Smoking: Cigarette smoking increases your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, particularly if you have a genetic predisposition for developing the disease.

If you have excess body weight - People who are overweight appear to be at a somewhat higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.


Why is it important to understand more about Rheumatoid Arthritis?


To prevent pain and suffering, but also to prevent worse degeneration that can lead to other problems such as infections, abnormal body composition (having a higher proportion of fat to lean mass than normal with your BMI (body mass index)), and increased risk of heart problems.


Most of the time, we witness Rheumatoid Arthritis in those who are older - especially in our parents and grandparents. Knowing how to support them and prevent worse pain down the road is such a helpful way we can give back to those who have supported us throughout our lives.



How does light therapy help with Rheumatoid Arthritis?


Here are two core things that happen during a Low-Level Light Therapy session that help with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA):


  1. Light therapy has been used successfully to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other types of pain for decades. The light wavelengths used during a session helps to improve energy production in joint cells, which lowers inflammation and normalizes the function of your joints. Basically it gives your body the energy it needs to regulate itself, teach itself which cells are truly dangerous, and heal any physical damage that occurred from your body attacking itself.

  2. Light therapy helps your body increase your body's circulation. Specifically, it supports healthy blood flow to areas of your body, like your joints, to remove waste and to stimulate healing, increase tissue oxygenation, and increase antioxidants.



Now, what does science say…


“Phototherapy can convert light into heat to promote necrosis or apoptosis [auto cell death] of Rheumatoid Arthritis inflammatory cells, thus reducing the concentration of related inflammatory factors and relieving the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis.” (Article 3.) Basically, your body is able to target cells that aren’t correctly supporting the body to prevent healthy cells from being incorrectly attacked.

“Recent advancements in modern technology have demonstrated the beneficial effect of light on arthritic joints.” (Article 1.) LLLT was introduced as an alternative non-invasive treatment almost 10 years ago. “The application of non-invasive, drug-free light has provided reduction in swelling, inflammation and pain to affected joints.” (Article 1.)

“In patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, relative to a separate control group, LLLT reduced pain by 70% relative to placebo and reduced morning stiffness, and increased tip to palm flexibility by 1.3 cm.” (Article 2.)

Exploring how we can care for our body amidst the natural aging that occurs throughout our lives is essential. See how light therapy can help your body & brain!


No matter what it is that you are looking for, I know that we'll find a way to help you heal with light therapy.


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If you want to learn more about Light Therapy & my Light Therapy work, you can follow me with the links below, or email me at Lisa@lightmattersinfo.com - thank you for reading!



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If you liked this article you can also read:


Here are the articles I've referenced above:


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