Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect more than just your joints. Symptoms and causes of this condition vary significantly, often marked by periods of increased disease activity, known as flares, which alternate with periods of remission when symptoms fade or disappear. Over time, rheumatoid arthritis can lead to joint deformation and displacement.
The primary symptoms of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, are joint pain and stiffness, typically worsening with age. While osteoarthritis involves the breakdown of cartilage at the joints, rheumatoid arthritis is characterized as an autoimmune disease impacting more than just joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms extend beyond joint issues, potentially causing loss of appetite, dry eyes and mouth (related to Sjogren’s syndrome), and rheumatoid nodules. Key symptoms indicative of rheumatoid arthritis include joint pain, tenderness, swelling, or stiffness lasting six weeks or longer, morning stiffness extending beyond 30 minutes, and the affliction of more than one joint, particularly small joints in wrists, hands, and feet.
Mayo Clinic and Healthline outline that rheumatoid arthritis and gout, another painful arthritis type, differ in their causes and symptoms. Gout results from uric acid crystal accumulation leading to inflammation, while rheumatoid arthritis stems from autoimmune-induced joint damage.
Understanding the broader impact of rheumatoid arthritis is crucial, as it affects far more than just joints. For more comprehensive information about the common and rare symptoms, as well as complications of rheumatoid arthritis, refer to resources like the Arthritis Foundation and WebMD.
