HEALTHY LIVING

Definition
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic (long-term) disease that causes inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. It can also affect other organs.
Alternative NamesRA; Arthritis - rheumatoid

Causes, incidence, and risk factors
The cause of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unknown. It is considered autoimmune disease. The body's immune system normally fights off foreign substances, like viruses. But in an autoimmune disease, the immune system confuses healthy tissue for foreign substances. As a result, the body attacks itself.
RA can occur at any age. It usually occurs in people between 25 and 55. Women are affected more often than men.
The course and the severity of the illness can vary considerably. Infection, genes, and hormones may contribute to the disease.
RA usually affects joints on both sides of the body equally. Wrists, fingers, knees, feet, and ankles are the most commonly affected.

Symptoms
The disease usually begins gradually with fatigue, morning stiffness (lasting more than one hour), widespread muscle aches, loss of appetite, and weakness. Eventually, joint pain appears. When the joint is not used for a while, it can become warm, tender, and stiff. When the lining of the joint (synovium) becomes inflamed, it gives off more fluid and the joint becomes swollen. Joint pain is often felt on both sides of the body, and may effect the wrist, knees, elbows, fingers, toes, ankle or neck. Additional symptoms include:
Loss of appetiteLow-grade feverLimited range of motionDeformities of hands and feetRound, painless nodules under the skin (usually a sign of more severe disease)Inflammation of the lung (pleurisy)Skin redness or inflammationPalenessSwollen glandsEye burning, itching, and dischargeNumbness or tinglingAnemia may occur due to failure of the bone marrow to produce enough new red cells.Joint destruction may occur within 1-2 years after the appearance of the disease.

Signs and tests
Joint x-raysRheumatoid factor test is positive in about 75% of people with symptoms Erythrocyte sedimentation rate is elevated CBC may show low hematocrit (anemia) or ....... read more