| According to the Arthritis Foundation, an estimated 67 | | | | cartilage, and swelling and inflammation in the joint lining. |
| million Americans will have some form of arthritis by | | | | Inflammation within the joint lining causes it to produce |
| 2030. Arthritis is a general term that refers to a | | | | excessive joint fluid within the joint. |
| condition that causes inflammation in a joint, which is | | | | With the wearing down of cartilage, bones can begin |
| characterized by redness, warmth, swelling, and pain | | | | to rub against one another. As the joint lining expands, |
| within the joint. | | | | it can invade or erode into adjacent bone causing |
| Specifically, rheumatoid arthritis is a type of chronic | | | | bone damage. This also causes the joints to become |
| arthritis that normally occurs in joints on both sides of | | | | painful and warm to the touch. |
| the body, such as hands, wrists, or knees. The | | | | Physicians diagnose rheumatoid arthritis based on a |
| symmetry of this condition helps to distinguish it from | | | | number of factors including: |
| other types of arthritis. In addition to affecting the joints, | | | | 1. The specific location and symmetry of painful joints, |
| rheumatoid arthritis may also affect the skin, eyes, | | | | especially in the hands. |
| lungs, heart, blood, or nerves. | | | | 2. The presence of joint stiffness in the morning. |
| The most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis | | | | 3. The presence of bumps and nodules under the skin |
| include joint pain and swelling, stiffness, especially in the | | | | 4. Results of x-ray tests that suggest rheumatoid |
| morning or after sitting for long periods, and fatigue. | | | | arthritis. |
| Affecting about 1 percent of the U.S. population, most | | | | 5. Positive results of a blood test called the rheumatoid |
| people experience joint symptoms which develop | | | | factor. |
| gradually over several years. However, for some | | | | Recent major studies have indicated the dramatic |
| rheumatoid arthritis can progress rapidly, or it may | | | | benefits of early treatment with rheumatoid arthritis |
| strike for a limited period of time and then enter a | | | | medication. Early intensive treatment with a |
| period of remission. Rheumatoid arthritis is two to three | | | | combination of medications offers a chance of |
| times more common in women than in men, but men | | | | remission. In comparison to 20 years ago, studies |
| tend to be more severely affected by the disease. | | | | show that those who have been diagnosed with |
| The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. | | | | rheumatoid arthritis today are receiving more |
| However, it is believed to be due to a combination of | | | | aggressive treatment, and require fewer joint |
| genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors. In patients | | | | replacement surgeries than their predecessors. |
| with rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system is | | | | "When you begin these treatments early on," said Eric |
| triggered to attack the joints and sometimes the | | | | Matteson, rheumatologist MD, Mayo Clinic, "you are |
| organs. Theories have suggested that a virus or | | | | less likely to develop erosive disease in the joints, and |
| bacteria may alter the immune system, causing it to | | | | less likely to develop other related conditions such as |
| attack the joints. While research has not been able to | | | | lung disease, vasculitis, and pericarditis, all of which are |
| determine exactly what role genetics play, some | | | | major contributors to early mortality in people with |
| patients do seem to have a genetic or inherited factor | | | | rheumatoid arthritis." |
| that increases their chances of developing rheumatoid | | | | However, plenty of data also suggests that even a |
| arthritis. | | | | late diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis can |
| Once the immune system is triggered, a patient with | | | | be effective. It's never too early, and never too late," |
| rheumatoid arthritis begins to produce inflammatory | | | | said Theodore Fields, MD, FACP, clinical director of the |
| substances within his or her joints. An increase in the | | | | Gosden-Robinson Early Arthritis Center at New York's |
| number of cells and the inflammatory substances | | | | Hospital for Special Surgery. "There's plenty of data |
| within the joints cause irritation, a wearing down of the | | | | that even treating late does help. |