| Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that many people will | | | | What causes your body to go through this process is |
| experience at some point. The cause of arthritis is not | | | | somewhat unknown. Some scientists believe and a |
| something that is easy to pinpoint, though. Scientists | | | | single infection can lead to it. You also carry certain |
| are working hard to trying to determine what causes | | | | genes that allow you to be more susceptible to the |
| this condition. If you find yourself suffering from pain in | | | | condition as well. Although arthritis itself is not |
| your joints, then it is possible that this condition is now | | | | necessary something that will be passed down, the |
| affecting you. But, why; there are some risk factors | | | | potential for getting it, is. Other doctors believe that |
| that can be indications that there is the possibility of | | | | hormone irregularities are to blame for the condition. |
| getting rheumatoid arthritis, but in short, it can happen to | | | | Who's At Risk? |
| anyone. | | | | There are some individuals that are more likely to |
| What Causes It? | | | | experience rheumatoid arthritis than others. Being |
| The pain that you feel from rheumatoid arthritis is | | | | female makes you more likely to have the condition as |
| caused by the inflammation that you feel. White blood | | | | many more women will be diagnosed each year. In |
| cells are to blame for this pain. There is a tissue called | | | | addition, age seems to be an indicator. Although |
| the synovium that is inside your joints. It is the liner of | | | | anyone, even children can develop arthritis; most will |
| them, allowing them to move easily. But, for some | | | | get it as they get older. As mentioned, you may have |
| reason that is not fully understood, the white blood cells | | | | genes that make you more susceptible to the onset of |
| in your body attack this lining. White blood cells are | | | | arthritis. Those that are exposed to infections also are |
| actually the "good guys" in your body, fighting off | | | | at a higher risk than those that are not. Many scientists |
| bacteria and viruses that enter your blood stream. As | | | | believe that those that smoke for a long period of time |
| they attack your joint's lining, they create additional | | | | will also be more likely to suffer from arthritis. And, for |
| problems for you. | | | | some, there is no indicator that it will happen. |
| As this lining is inflamed by the attack on it by the | | | | Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that is not fully |
| white blood cells, it begins to secrete a substance that | | | | understood. There are millions of people in the United |
| is full of proteins. Those proteins end up enlarging the | | | | States alone that suffer from arthritis. There is help, |
| synovium, so much so that it makes movement nearly | | | | though. There are many medications that can be used |
| impossible for your joint. The larger that your joint gets | | | | to help lessen the pain that you are dealing with and |
| because of the increased amount of proteins over | | | | also to help you to slow the progression of the |
| time, the more painful it will be. Eventually, they can | | | | condition. |
| become deformed and unusable to you. | | | | |