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Health Tips – Overview of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is the most debilitating form of arthritis and the most common type of inflammatory joint disease. It attacks the joints and connective tissue of your body, causing redness, pain and swelling. Inflammation associated with this type of arthritis can also affect the eyes, lungs, heart and other internal organs.

Researchers think that rheumatoid arthritis results from a malfunction of the immune system. The role of the immune system is to fight off disease or germs. However, in the case of rheumatoid arthritis, it fails to recognize normal body tissue and starts to attack it. Over time, this relentless attack destroys cartilage, bone, tendons and ligaments.

Rheumatoid arthritis usually begins by inflaming the synovial membrane, which is a thin layer of tissue surrounding each joint. The disease causes the synovial membrane to grow and thicken. Gradually, the pressure from the thickening tissue damages the cartilage and bone, causing severe pain, loss of movement and joint deformity.

Because it can affect many organs in your body, rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a systemic disease. Often, it is accompanied by flu-like symptoms, fatigue, aches and pains and weakness. Symptoms usually develop slowly but sometimes they can flare up suddenly, affecting many joints at once.

The disease usually begins by affecting your wrists, hands, feet and knees. As it progresses, your shoulders, elbows, hips, jaw and neck can also become involved. Small lumps may eventually develop under your skin, further deforming the joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect both sides of your body at once – for example, if your right wrist is inflamed, your left wrist will probably be inflamed, as well.

Rheumatoid arthritis is two to three times more common in women than in men. It usually strikes people between the ages of 20 and 50, but can also affect young children and older adults. As with many types of arthritis, there may be a genetic connection. You may be more at risk if other members of your family suffer from this condition. Some researchers think that certain types of infections can trigger rheumatoid arthritis and that people who smoke for long periods of time may also be at higher risk for this type of arthritic condition.