Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect more than just your joints. In some people, the condition can damage a wide variety of body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels.
Common causes of rheumatoid arthritis, like all autoimmune diseases, involve an immune system that malfunctions. Normally, the body produces antibodies targeted at specific pathogens. However, in autoimmune conditions, these defenses turn against the body’s own tissues.
Rheumatoid arthritis and gout, although both painful types of arthritis, have different underlying causes. Gout is characterized by intense pain, redness, stiffness, swelling, and warmth in joints due to uric acid crystals. In contrast, rheumatoid arthritis involves immune system-induced joint damage.
RA, or rheumatoid arthritis, is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease. It causes the immune system to mistakenly attack healthy cells, leading to inflammation in affected parts of the body. RA typically affects multiple joints simultaneously, commonly in the hands, wrists, and knees.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory arthritis and extra-articular involvement. It’s often caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, including tobacco, primarily affecting synovial joints.
The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, typically worsening with age. The most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis involves the breakdown of joint cartilage, while rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease causing severe joint inflammation. This inflammation can severely impact joint appearance and function. In the hand, RA can cause finger joint deformities, hindering hand movement.
Environmental factors, such as exposure to toxic chemicals or infections, can increase RA risk. Additionally, RA is more prevalent in women, particularly those who have never been pregnant.
For more detailed information, visit the following links:
Mayo Clinic,
Verywell Health,
Cleveland Clinic,
CDC,
NCBI Bookshelf,
Mayo Clinic on Arthritis,
Johns Hopkins Medicine,
WebMD.
