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Learn more about rheumatoid Arthritis

The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis can affect anyone at any age, including children.

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS SYMPTOMS CHECKLIST

Symptoms of RA differ from person to person but can generally include:

   Joint tenderness, warmth, and swelling. Both sides of the body are usually affected at the same time. This is also called a "symmetrical pattern" of inflammation. For example, if one knee is affected, the other one is also. This is in contrast to osteoarthritis, where it is possible for only one knee to be affected. Typically it involves the small joints of the hands and feet.

   Pain and stiffness lasting for more than 1 hour in the morning or after a long rest

   Joint inflammation in the wrist and finger joints closest to the hand (although joints of the neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, ankles, and feet can be affected as well)

   Fatigue, rarely fevers and a general sense of feeling unwell

   Symptoms that last for an extended period of time (more than 6 weeks)

   Symptoms in other parts of the body, not just in the joints

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RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS RISK FACTORS

The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unknown. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of several autoimmune diseases ? where a person?s immune system is triggered to attack his or her own tissues.

Research conducted over the past few years suggests that several factors may combine to cause rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These include genetic factors, environmental factors and others.

   Genetic Factors. Certain genes that play a role in the immune system are associated with the likelihood of developing rheumatoid arthritis. However, many people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) do not have these specific genes, and other people have these genes but never develop the disease. This suggests that, while a person's genetic makeup is an important part of the story, it is not the sole reason for developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

   Environmental Factors. Many researchers believe that something must occur to trigger rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in people whose genetic makeup makes them susceptible to the disease. This could be an infectious agent such as a virus or bacterium but no trigger has yet been found. (This does not mean that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) itself is contagious. It cannot be transmitted from person to person.) However there is some evidence accumulating that smoking is plays a role in triggering rheumatoid arthritis and in the severity of this disease

   Other related factors. Some scientists have put forward their belief that certain hormonal factors may be involved in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These hormonal deficiencies/changes may trigger rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a genetically susceptible person who has been exposed to an environmental trigger.

   Dietary factors. No diet has ever definitively been linked to causing or improving rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. However there are studies showing the benefit of the mediterranean diet and fish oils.

   Female gender. In general, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) occurs much more frequently in women than in men.

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IS THIS ARTHRITIS?

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