| Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that causes severe | | | | particular have a higher chance of being affected by |
| inflammation of the joints such as ankles, knees, hips | | | | this illness. |
| and hands to name a few. Far more likely to occur in | | | | Weight is yet another and often decisive factor that |
| women than men, this usually strikes adults and may | | | | increases the risk. The logic behind it is much simpler to |
| depend on a host of factors. There is no known cure | | | | understand. Being overweight can place significant |
| for the condition and treatment is focused on relieving | | | | amounts of excessive pressure on joints such as |
| the acute pain that accompanies it and on reducing its | | | | knees, ankles and hips. It is believed that a mere pound |
| progress. The disease also causes stiffness and can | | | | in excess of the suitable body weight could increase |
| result in severe restrictions to an affected person's | | | | the pressure on the joints by about three to five times. |
| mobility. | | | | Given this fact, the more overweight a person is the |
| There are several risk factors for the condition. | | | | higher the risk of developing the condition. Weight will |
| Numerous research findings and studies have and | | | | also compound the state of the condition in a person |
| continue to indicate a connection between genetics | | | | already suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. As such it is |
| and rheumatoid arthritis. It can occur in about 1% of the | | | | recommended that particular attention is paid to weight |
| population and it is believed that if and where the | | | | with regard to the disease. This can be negated by a |
| condition is prevalent in a family, it is likely to affect | | | | proper evaluation of one's diet whereby weight |
| more family members. In addition to the genetic factor, | | | | enhancing food items can be struck off the menu and |
| the environment where one lives and grows up in can | | | | a healthier and wholesome diet plan followed. |
| also increase the risk factors. For example a work | | | | A person's immune system may also play a role in |
| environment that is heavy on routines and repetitive | | | | increased risks of the illness. According to various |
| actions are known to increase the risk factor for | | | | sources it is believed that 70 to 80 percent of those |
| rheumatoid arthritis. So does an environment with | | | | with the disease also show increased levels of the |
| cigarette smoke. Both the habit of smoking as well as | | | | rheumatoid factor antibody. This antibody is rarely |
| passive smoke is considered as a risk factor that | | | | found on those who are free of the condition. This |
| could contribute to a person developing rheumatoid | | | | may signal an immune system abnormality that could |
| arthritis or exacerbate the condition from moderate to | | | | lead to rheumatoid arthritis. The fact that quite a |
| severe. | | | | number of people also develop this subsequent to an |
| A person's ethnic background could also lead to higher | | | | illness or infection is more proof of the immune |
| levels of risk for the disease. It is believed that | | | | systems role here. |
| Caucasian people and some Native American tribes in | | | | |