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Leila Koleilat, Communications Manager at Hoffmann-La Roche, explained:
"We found that RA warranted an intensive briefing session with journalists in order to truly convey a genuine vision of living with the disease and the many challenges the patients and their families face with it by not only focusing on the physical aspect of it but the emotional and spiritual ones as well."
Several RA patients joined the Roche Communicates session to share their invaluable experience of living with the disease, "We have found that patients present some of the most insightful information about RA and their knowledge has proven to be vital in our quest to develop an understanding of it and how to adapt for a better quality of life," affirmed Koleilat.
The briefing highlighted the most effective ways to treat and most importantly cope with the disease - be it through physical exercise, mental relief or medication. Specialized psychologists, fitness instructors and doctors were invited to advice on the latest available remedies.
Dr. Imad Uthman, a professor of Rheumatology at the American University of Beirut Medical Center who attended the recent EULAR congress presented an in-depth review of RA.
He explained that this growing disease is characterized by pain and swelling (inflammation) in and around joints, stiffness in the joints and muscles - which is more apparent in the morning - and fatigue, and that "The precise cause of RA has not been discovered yet - although researchers the world over are continuously trying to uncover the reasons behind it - and anyone, at any age is at risk of getting it - most commonly between the ages of 25 and 50."
Dr. Uthman assured that dramatical changes in the treatment approaches of RA occurred over the last decade through the discovery of innovative treatments that not only treat signs and symptoms but also slow radiological progression of the disease and prevent patients' disability.
Posted by Siba Sami Ammari
