| Gas station attendants, mechanics, car enthusiasts | | | | "Unlike osteoarthritis, which results from wear and tear |
| beware! A study suggests that exposure to motor oil | | | | on your joints, RA is an inflammatory condition. The |
| and similar substances may increase your chances of | | | | exact cause of RA is unknown, but it's believed to be |
| getting arthritis. | | | | the body's immune system attacking the tissue that |
| This starting discovery comes from Swedish | | | | lines your joints (synovium)," explained the Mayo Clinic. |
| researchers who said mineral oils like hydraulic or | | | | "RA is two to three times more common in women |
| motor oils can give you a 30 percent risk of developing | | | | than in men and generally strikes between the ages of |
| certain forms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). | | | | 20 and 50. But RA can also affect young children and |
| Researchers from the Karolinska Institute said these | | | | adults older than age 50," it added. |
| oils appear to contain certain molecules that trigger the | | | | Risk factors for RA include old age, being female, |
| development of RA. Their study appeared in "Arthritis | | | | smoking, and being exposed to an infection that may |
| Research and Therapy." | | | | trigger the disease in susceptible individuals. |
| Earlier, tests on rats showed a similar pattern. To | | | | Although experts consider the findings of Swedish |
| confirm this, the researchers studied patients with | | | | researchers rather bizarre, they contend that it merits |
| rheumatoid arthritis between 1996 and 2003. | | | | serious attention, especially since it was published in a |
| "Each patient provided details of their exposure to | | | | prestigious medical journal. |
| different types of mineral oils, including asphalt and | | | | "There are many so-called environmental risk factors |
| engine oil. The results suggested that exposure to | | | | such as exposure to silica that triggers RA in some |
| hydraulic or motor oil was associated with an | | | | people - combined with a genetic predisposition," they |
| increased risk of two forms of rheumatoid arthritis," | | | | said. |
| reported the BBC News. | | | | While there are many prescription medications to |
| Rheumatoid arthritis affects over two million American | | | | relieve the symptoms of RA and slow its progression, |
| adults. It is the most crippling form of arthritis that | | | | these have serious side effects like stomach bleeding, |
| causes the joints to become painful and deformed, | | | | indigestion, high blood pressure, and kidney or liver |
| making simple activities like walking or opening a jar | | | | damage. Others have been linked to an increased risk |
| difficult to perform. | | | | of heart attack and stroke. |