| There are times when our own immune system | | | | gene associated with developing rheumatoid arthritis, |
| begins to work in a manner that adversely affects our | | | | but it doesn't become dominant unless certain other |
| bodies. The reasons behind this remain largely | | | | secondary factors influence it. |
| unknown despite extensive research, and the causes | | | | Environmental factors can be so many and varied too. |
| of rheumatoid arthritis are even today not known | | | | The exact trigger is still not found, but research points |
| exactly. However, medical specialists working in this | | | | towards some bacteria and viruses. It cannot be |
| field have been able to identify a series of factors that | | | | ranked as a disease, and it is absolutely not contagious. |
| can be associated with rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | Some of the related causes of rheumatoid arthritis are |
| In the US, 1.2 million adults, equaling 0.5 to 1 percent of | | | | linked to the hormones secreted during pregnancy and |
| the population, are rheumatoid arthritis patients. | | | | the period when mothers breast feed babies. The use |
| However, the numbers are declining positively, | | | | of hormonal birth control also affect the possibility of |
| revealing some secrets of the possible causes of | | | | getting rheumatoid arthritis. |
| rheumatoid arthritis. More research into the decline will | | | | Typically, immune system molecules known as |
| be able provide more understanding of how it all | | | | interleukin 12 (IL-12) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha |
| begins. | | | | (TNF-a) are thought to be the major causes of |
| Middle age is often when the symptoms start to come | | | | rheumatoid arthritis in pregnant women. These |
| up, but that doesn't mean younger people don't get | | | | molecules produce swelling in reaction to certain |
| afflicted. Rheumatoid arthritis affects women more | | | | external triggers and causes tissue destruction at |
| than men, causing most of the damage in older | | | | times, which are the primary symptoms of rheumatoid |
| women. Although most causes of rheumatoid arthritis | | | | arthritis. Since rheumatoid arthritis limits physical activity |
| are now identified, medication and treatment are still | | | | and causes severe joint aches, many who suffer from |
| expensive for the ordinary income earner. | | | | the condition are also susceptible to depression, |
| While genetic (hereditary) factors are believed to be | | | | anxiety and other generalized mental health problems. |
| the primary causes of rheumatoid arthritis, there is still | | | | Not all the answers are crystal clear yet, but there will |
| the necessity to trigger the condition, and this is | | | | be a day when extensive research, experimentation, |
| believed to be caused by environmental factors. Some | | | | clinical trials and gene therapy find ways to eliminate |
| have the genetic mapping for symptomatic rheumatoid | | | | the trigger potential of the known causes of |
| arthritis, while others are only gene carriers. This | | | | rheumatoid arthritis. Eventually, this will lead to the |
| revelation points in the direction of figuring out what the | | | | discovery of a complete cure for the condition. |
| triggers are for inducing the condition. There is a single | | | | |