Rheumatoid_Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) What Is It' Rheumatoid arthritis (rue-ma-TOYD arth-write-tis) involves inflammation in the lining of the joints and/or other internal organs. RA typically affects many different joints. It can be chronic, which means it lasts a long time, and can be a disease of flares (active) and remissions (little to no activity). RA is a systemic disease that affects the entire body and is one of the most common forms of arthritis. It is characterized by the inflammation of the membrane lining the joint, which causes pain, stiffness, warmth, redness and swelling. The inflamed joint lining, the synovium, can invade and damage bone and cartilage. Inflammatory cells release enzymes that may digest bone and cartilage. The involved joint can lose its shape and alignment, resulting in pain and loss of movement. What Are the Symptoms' Symptoms include inflammation of joints, swelling, difficulty moving and pain. Other symptoms include: Loss of appetite Fever Loss of energy Anemia Sometimes rheumatoid nodules (lumps of tissue under the skin) Can affect other parts of the body. What Causes It' The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not yet known. However, it is known that RA is an autoimmune disease. The body's natural immune system does not operate as it ra, rheumatoid, joints, joint, disease, pain, arthritis, treatment, symptoms, swelling, people, inflammation, include, affects, time, therapy, stiffness, medications, loss, factor, early, drugs, damage, body, women, under, tissue, system, skin, resulting, rest, researchers, physical, over, one