What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis? Causes, Symptoms, and Stages Explained

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease known to cause pain, stiffness, warmth, redness, and swelling in joints. Over time, these symptoms can lead to joint deformation and misalignment. But what triggers such a reaction in the body?

The Underlying Cause
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. In simpler terms, it’s when the body’s immune system turns on itself, mistakenly attacking its own tissues. This misguided response leads the immune system to target the lining of your joints, causing inflammation and the symptoms we associate with RA. In certain individuals, RA can affect more than just the joints – it can damage various body systems, from the skin and eyes to the lungs, heart, and blood vessels.

Identifying Symptoms
The onset of RA can be identified by several symptoms:

Persistent joint pain, tenderness, swelling, or stiffness that lasts for six weeks or more.
Morning stiffness persisting for 30 minutes or longer.
Involvement of multiple joints, with small joints (like those in the wrists, hands, and feet) usually being affected first.
To distinguish, it’s essential to know that arthritis, in general, refers to the swelling and tenderness of one or multiple joints, with the primary symptoms being joint pain and stiffness. The two most prevalent types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis
RA progresses in stages:

Stage 1: The early phase where the joint lining or synovium gets inflamed. There’s no bone damage at this point, but the surrounding tissue often swells, resulting in joint stiffness and pain.
Stage 2: Further details on subsequent stages can be found in detailed studies, highlighting the importance of early detection and intervention.

Even though RA is progressive, there’s hope. Recent advancements in medical treatments, especially disease-modifying drugs, might slow down or even halt its progression.

For those recently diagnosed with RA, it’s crucial to understand that this disease primarily attacks the joints, often affecting multiple joints simultaneously. It predominantly targets joints in the hands, wrists, and other parts of the body, leading to inflammation and painful swelling.

For more in-depth information on Rheumatoid Arthritis, consider visiting Mayo Clinic, Arthritis Foundation, or the CDC.