7) Loss of appetite and anemia
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis may also experience loss of appetite, also known as anorexia. This symptom is prevalent in the late stage of the disease and triggers weight loss and other problems, including anemia. Anemia is a blood disorder characterized by a reduction of hemoglobin levels in the blood, which is caused by nutritional problems or sustained stress in patients with chronic disease.
Loss of appetite and anemia in chronic disease are also linked to metabolic stress in the organism. Metabolic stress is defined as an imbalance between the production and utilization of energy substrates by cells. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, metabolic stress results from the inability of inflammatory cells to use glucose normally.