Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation of the joints. It can occur at any age, but usually develops between the ages of 30 and 50.

Arthritis can start suddenly, with the inflammation of many joints at the same time. However, it usually comes on slowly, beginning in a few joints before gradually spreading to the rest of the body. The disease is symmetrical, meaning that the same joints on each side of the body are affected at the same time (e.g., both wrists). These are the most commonly affected joints:

Inflammation linked to rheumatoid arthritis causes symptoms such as pain, stiffness, and swelling in the affected joints. The pain and stiffness are more acute first thing in the morning, then subside throughout the day. Joint warmth, redness, and deformity can also occur. In more severe cases, inflammation can lead to joint destruction.

Other reported symptoms include fatigue, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, and fever. Inflammation can also spread to other parts of the body, causing additional symptoms. Below are some of the areas that can become affected:

Causes and triggers

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. When you have this type of condition, your immune system, which normally attacks cells that are foreign to the body (e.g., infectious viruses and bacteria), mistakenly attacks the cells of your own body instead. Why this happens remains unknown. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system mostly attacks the joints.

Certain factors, such as the following, increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis:

• Old age
• Being a woman
• Family history of rheumatoid arthritis
• Smoking
• Stress

Treatment

There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis. However, it can be treated to reduce symptoms and allow the affected individual to live a normal life. It's important to treat the disease as soon as possible and on an ongoing basis to prevent joint destruction.

Treatment involves medication, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and lifestyle changes. Surgical treatments are also an option. Maintaining a healthy diet, doing low-impact physical activity, quitting smoking, and treating conditions that can worsen arthritis, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, helps control the disease.

When should I see a health care professional?

Consult your health care provider if you develop one or more of the following symptoms:

• Joint pain or stiffness in the morning that lasts more than an hour
• Warmth or redness in the joints
• Lumps beneath the skin, around joints such as the elbows, hands, and feet
• Limited range of motion in the affected joints
• Other symptoms such as fever, fatigue, weight loss, or loss of appetite

For more information:

• The Arthritis Society