Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that significantly impacts various body systems, including joints, skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels. It’s characterized by symptoms such as swelling, tenderness, and stiffness, often more pronounced in the morning. Morning RA pain can last for 30 minutes or more but usually improves with a warm shower. RA also can cause tingling or numbness.
This condition affects life expectancy, potentially shortening it by about 10 to 15 years. Factors influencing this include gender, age, personal and family medical history, lifestyle, and overall health and wellbeing. The likelihood of developing RA increases with age, with the highest onset among adults in their sixties. RA is also more common in women than men, with new cases being two-to-three times higher in women.
RA causes inflammation, pain, swelling, stiffness, and reduced joint mobility, often affecting multiple joints symmetrically. The long-term effects of RA can extend beyond the joints, impacting the eyes, lungs, heart, and other parts of the body. It can lead to joint damage and deformation due to prolonged inflammation.
Mayo Clinic provides comprehensive information on the symptoms and causes of RA. Additionally, understanding the life expectancy associated with RA is crucial for patients. The effects of RA on different body systems are extensively discussed by Healthline.
Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect other body systems, such as the musculoskeletal, integumentary (skin), ocular (eye), immune, and circulatory systems. The medications used to treat RA can also cause side effects, including skin problems.
For more detailed information on RA, visit Johns Hopkins Medicine, Medical News Today on RA prognosis and life expectancy, and Verywell Health for a comprehensive overview of RA’s effects on the body systems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also provides valuable insights into RA.
