At last, scientists have come up with an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
And it's not a future promise. The FDA has approved it and the device is already being rolled out and will be available everywhere by 2026.
About 1.5 million Americans have RA, a chronic auto-immune disease that causes inflammation, joint stiffness, and pain.
The device, called the SetPoint System, is a chip that is implanted in the neck of patients. It uses electrical signals to tap the body's vagus nerve, according to Smithsonian. The vagus nerve acts like a switch that turns on and off extra immune system activity. The one-inch long SetPoint chip stimulates the nerve for one minute each day.
One patient told the New York Times that, before the implant, her RA pain remained at about six or seven on a 10-point scale. After the implant her pain was about a two.
Allyson Good curates senior living, health, and family content. She is formerly the Managing Editor of Active Life, a print newspaper published in 2016-2017 for seniors, choosing practical articles on health, money, safety, and everyday living for older readers. She is also an avid gardener and offers up Garden Hints and Tips on a regular basis.