About Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Name of the medical condition and other names that it’s been known by

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

• It's sometimes called rheumatoid disease

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-lasting health problem that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in joints. It's different from other types of arthritis because it's an autoimmune disease. This means the body's defense system, which usually fights off germs, mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints. This attack causes inflammation, which leads to the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects joints on both sides of the body simultaneously, like both hands or knees. It often starts in smaller joints, such as fingers and toes, and can spread to larger joints, like elbows, shoulders, and hips. Besides joint problems, rheumatoid arthritis can also affect other body parts, including the skin, eyes, lungs, and blood vessels.

The main symptoms of RA, which can come and go are:

• Joint pain, tenderness, and swelling

• Stiffness, especially in the morning or after resting

• Fatigue (feeling very tired)

• Fever and loss of appetite

Times, when symptoms get worse, are called flares, and periods, when symptoms improve, are called remission. RA can make everyday activities difficult. Simple tasks like buttoning a shirt or opening a jar can become painful and challenging. Over time, if not treated, RA can cause joints to become deformed and stop working correctly.

Doctors don't know exactly what causes RA, but they think it's a mix of genes and environmental factors, like viruses or bacteria. Some factors that might increase the risk of getting RA include:

• Being a woman (women are more likely to get RA than men)

• Being older (RA often starts in middle age)

• Smoking

• Having family members with RA

There's no cure for RA, but treatments can help control symptoms and prevent joint damage. These treatments include:

• Medications to reduce inflammation and slow joint damage

• Physical therapy to keep joints flexible

• Occupational therapy to learn ways to do daily tasks without hurting joints

• In some cases, surgery to repair or replace damaged joints

Living with RA can be challenging, but many people with the condition lead active, full lives with proper treatment and care.

Trend

• In the United States, about 1.3 million adults have rheumatoid arthritis.

• A five-year projection for RA cases is not available, but the number of people with RA is expected to increase as the population ages.

History

Rheumatoid arthritis has been around for a long time. Doctors first described it in the 1800s, but there's evidence that people had it earlier. In the past, people with RA didn't have many treatment options and often became very disabled. The discovery of cortisone in the 1940s was a big step forward in treating RA. Since then, doctors have developed many new medicines that work better and have fewer side effects. Today, people with RA have a much better chance of managing their symptoms and staying active.

Source of Information

• Mayo Clinic

• Arthritis Foundation

• Cleveland Clinic

• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

For informational purposes only. Consult a medical professional for advice.