Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disorder that primarily affects joints, causing inflammation, pain, and potentially leading to significant joint damage. Unlike osteoarthritis, which is due to wear-and-tear, RA involves your immune system mistakenly attacking the tissues of your own body.

Symptoms of RA include painful swelling in the joints, often in the hands, wrists, and knees. This condition can cause the lining of your joints to become inflamed, leading to bone erosion and joint deformity over time. RA symptoms typically worsen following periods of rest, with the affected joints becoming warm, swollen, and painful.

The exact cause of RA is not fully understood, but it’s believed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors, such as tobacco use. As an autoimmune disease, RA involves the immune system attacking the synovium, the tissue lining around joints. This leads to inflammation, causing pain and swelling, and can result in joint and tissue damage.

Mayo Clinic provides comprehensive information on the symptoms and causes of RA. WebMD offers insights into RA as an autoimmune disease and its relation to other conditions. The CDC outlines the basics of RA, emphasizing its impact on the joints. Detailed medical information on RA can be found at NCBI Bookshelf. For a broader understanding, the Wikipedia page on RA offers a general overview. To learn more about the disease’s impact and treatments, visit Arthritis.org. Johns Hopkins Medicine also provides valuable insights into RA.

Researchers believe that certain factors, including heredity, might contribute to the development of RA. The condition not only affects the skeletal system but can also impact other organs such as the heart and lungs. Effective treatment for RA often involves a combination of medication, lifestyle changes, and sometimes surgery to manage symptoms and prevent joint damage.