AS does discriminate -- it is more common in men than women. It can also affect other areas of the body, including the shoulders, ribs, hips, and joints in the hands and feet. In some cases, this disease can affect certain organs in the body, including the heart, lungs, and eyes.
What Are The Symptoms?
The cause of AS is unknown. However, there have been some genetic markers that have been identified and linked to it, indicating it might be hereditary. AS usually begins to show signs in early adulthood.
In the initial stages of the disease, sufferers will typically develop some level of chronic pain and/or stiffness, most commonly starting in the lower back. The discomfort will begin to develop gradually over a few months. When the pain surfaces, it may only happen on one side of the body, or it may alternate sides. It is typically a dull, generalized pain, rather than a sharp, shooting pain. In women, symptoms are often atypical, making a diagnosis harder.
For most people, this early pain is particularly severe overnight and in the mornings, and may be eased by showering or exercise, according to the SAA. As the pain becomes more consistent and develops on both sides, it may spread up through the spine and neck, ribs, shoulders, hips and thighs.
In addition, patients with AS may experience fatigue, weight loss, mild to moderate anemia, as well as bowel inflammation. Some patients may experience a pain that starts in a location other than the spine, such as at the hip joint or neck.