Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation, swelling, pain, stiffness, and potentially joint deformity. This condition mistakenly causes the body’s immune system to attack healthy cells. RA primarily affects the joints, commonly involving the hands, wrists, and knees, but it can also impact the lungs, heart, and other parts of the body.
One of the most significant challenges of RA is its potential to cause pain, swelling, and deformity. As the synovial membrane, which lines your joints, becomes inflamed and thickened, fluid builds up, leading to joint erosion and degradation. This progression can severely impact mobility and quality of life.
Apart from joint issues, RA increases the risk of developing other health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancers, osteoporosis, lung diseases, and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. It’s crucial to understand these risks for better management and prevention of complications.
While the main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age, rheumatoid arthritis stands out due to its autoimmune nature. Unlike osteoarthritis, which results from the breakdown of joint cartilage, RA involves your immune system actively causing joint damage.
In more severe cases, RA can lead to deformities in the joints, especially in the fingers, making hand movements difficult. It’s also important to note that respiratory problems are among the most serious and common complications of RA.
Rheumatoid arthritis can be mistaken for other types of arthritis, like gout, which also causes joint pain and inflammation. However, gout results from uric acid crystals, whereas RA is due to autoimmune responses.
For more information about rheumatoid arthritis, visit the Mayo Clinic, read patient perspectives at CreakyJoints, or explore severity assessments at Verywell Health. Additional resources are available from the CDC, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and Arthritis Foundation.
