Rheumatoid Arthritis

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic arthritis that generally occurs in the joints on both sides of the body. The symmetry of rheumatoid arthritis is what makes it different than other types of arthritis. In some cases, rheumatoid arthritis can affect the skin, eyes, lungs, blood, or nerves.

What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include: joint pain and swelling; stiffness, most commonly after staying in on position for extended periods of time (sleeping, sitting on the couch); and fatigue.

What Causes rheumatoid arthritis?

The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is still unknown, but many scientists believe it is a combination of factors from genetics to environmental and possibly hormonal.

What Increases My Risk of Developing rheumatoid arthritis?

Because the actual cause of rheumatoid arthritis is still unknown, risk factors are still not completely known. Some suggest that smoking may increase the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, genetics do appear to be a risk factor in developing rheumatoid arthritis.

How is rheumatoid arthritis Diagnosed?

The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is determined based on a combination of different factors. Different ways of diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis can include: specific location and symmetry of painful joints; presence of bumps and nodules under the skin; the presence of joint stiffness in the morning; X-rays; and blood tests.

How is rheumatoid arthritis treated?

Treatments can vary and may include things like medications, rest and exercise, or surgery to fix some of the joint damage. The method of treatment depends on things like age, level of health, medical history, and severity of the condition.

Medications for rheumatoid arthritis

Medications commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis include: Celebrex, Prednisone, and Methotrexate Sodium