| Arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability in the | | | | finger joints closest to the hand, but can also affect |
| US. 20% of arthritis sufferers are unable to perform | | | | joints in the feet and throughout the body. Anyone can |
| vital life activities such as working or housekeeping | | | | be affected by it, but women are more likely to |
| because of their condition. Arthritis sufferers endure | | | | develop symptoms. These most often begin between |
| more days in severe pain, experience more days with | | | | the ages of 20 and 30. The causes of rheumatoid |
| limited ability to perform daily activities, and have more | | | | arthritis are not yet understood, but many effective |
| difficulty performing personal-care routines than people | | | | strategies have been developed to manage the |
| without arthritis. As with other chronic pain conditions, | | | | symptoms. |
| arthritis can also have a negative effect on mental | | | | Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms and Signs |
| health. Some forms of arthritis also make your body | | | | The main symptom is joint stiffness in the morning, |
| age faster. Rheumatoid arthritis is the second most | | | | often in the hands or feet. Stiffness that persists for |
| common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis being the first. | | | | an hour or more, or swelling and pain that lasts for |
| The Definition of Rheumatoid Arthritis | | | | more than six weeks, may be indicative of rheumatoid |
| Rheumatoid arthritis, known as Still's disease in children, | | | | arthritis. Joint discomfort is typically symmetrical, for |
| is a condition that causes inflammation of joints and | | | | example both hands will hurt or feel stiff, not just one. |
| associated pain, swelling and stiffness. Rheumatoid | | | | Early symptoms also may include fever, excessive |
| arthritis causes the body's own immune system to | | | | tiredness, or pea-sized lumps called "nodules" that can |
| attack joint tissue, breaking down collagen, cartilage, | | | | be felt under the skin. |
| and sometimes bone or other organs. This chronic | | | | Other possible symptoms include anemia, appetite loss |
| disease affects people differently and fluctuates over | | | | and the accumulation of fluid in the ankles or behind the |
| time, often marked by symptoms that improve only to | | | | knee. In children, symptoms may include shaking chills |
| re-emerge later. In some cases it is mild and lasts only | | | | and a pink rash which may follow the characteristic |
| a few months (this kind is known as type 1), while in | | | | painful and swollen joints. |
| others the disease becomes progressively | | | | If you think that you may have rheumatoid arthritis, see |
| complicated by disability and other health problems, | | | | your doctor for a possible diagnosis and to discuss the |
| lasting many years (this is known as type 2). | | | | best course of treatment. |
| Rheumatoid arthritis most often affects the wrist and | | | | |