Define rheumatoid arthritis

Updated Oct, 15, 2021 Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes joint inflammation and pain. It happens when the immune system doesn’t work properly and attacks the lining of the joints, called the synovium. The disease commonly affects the hands, knees or ankles, and usually the same joint on both sides of the body, such as both hands or both knees. But sometimesRA causes problems in other parts of the body as well, such as the eyes, heart and circulatory system and/or the lungs. For unknown reasons, more women than men get RA, and it usually develops in middle age. Having a family member with RA increases the odds of developing RA. Causes In a healthy person, the immune system fights invaders, such as bacteria and viruses. With an autoimmune disease like RA, the immune system mistakes the body’s cells for foreign invaders and releases inflammatory chemicals that attack those cells. Tn RA, it attacks the synovium, the tissue lining around a joint that produces a fluid to help the joint move smoothly. The inflamed synovium gets thicker and makes the joint area feel painful and tender andlook red and swollen, and moving the joint may be difficult. Researchers aren’t sure why people develop RA. They believe these individuals may have certain genes that are activated by a trigger in the environment, such as a virus or bacteria, physical or Symptoms In the early stages, people with RA may not see redness or swelling in the joints, but they may experience tenderness and pain. These symp...

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What is rheumatoid arthritis? Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term (chronic) disease that causes inflammation of the joints. The inflammation can be so severe that it affects how the joints and other parts of the body look and function. In the hand, RA may cause deformities in the joints of the fingers. This makes moving your hands difficult. Lumps, known as rheumatoid nodules, may form anywhere in the body. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is a form of arthritis in children ages 16 or younger. It causes inflammation and joint stiffness that last for more than 6 weeks. Unlike adult RA, which lasts a lifetime, children often outgrow JRA. But the disease can affect bone development in a growing child. What causes rheumatoid arthritis? The exact cause of RA is not known. RA is an autoimmune disorder. This means the body's immune system attacks its own healthy cells and tissues. This causes inflammation in and around the joints. This may damage the skeletal system. RA can also damage other organs, such as the heart and lungs. Researchers think certain factors, including heredity, may be a factor. RA most often occurs in people from ages 30 to 50, but it can occur at any age. It happens more in women than in men. What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis? The joints most often affected by RA are in the hands, wrists, feet, ankles, knees, shoulders, and elbows. The disease often causes inflammation in the same areas on both sides of the body. Symptoms may begin sudden...

Recent Examples on the Web Arthritis of the finger joints has many different possible causes, ranging from osteoarthritis to psoriatic arthritis to rheumatoid arthritis to gout. — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 6 May 2023 The most common inflammatory arthropathies are rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, but systemic lupus may also cause inflammation. — Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 26 Jan. 2023 Gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and cellulitis are also conditions that could present with symptoms similar to those of Lyme disease.2 Blood Tests Blood testing is fairly common to help diagnose Lyme disease. — Amanda Macmillan, Health, 15 Apr. 2023 Biroczky, 57, has rheumatoid arthritis, which becomes worse when temperatures drop. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2023 Harmful inflammatory responses have been implicated in aging, neurodegenerative diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and atherosclerosis among other serious diseases. — William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2023 There are dozens of different types of arthritis and related diseases, but the most common are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout and lupus. — Melanie Radzicki Mcmanus, CNN, 10 Feb. 2023 This is very dangerous because, like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis can be very destructive to a joint. — Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 16 Dec. 2022 Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are medications currently FDA-approved to treat malaria and autoimmune diseases such as lupus and...