| Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory | | | | The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis come and go, |
| disorder or an autoimmune disease that may affect | | | | depending on the degree of tissue inflammation. When |
| many tissues and organs, but principally attacks | | | | the disease is active, symptoms can include fatigue, |
| synovial joints. Arthritis can also cause inflammation of | | | | loss of energy, lack of appetite, low-grade fever, |
| the tissue around the joints. The pathology of the | | | | muscle and joint aches, and stiffness. Muscle and joint |
| disease process often leads to the destruction of | | | | stiffness are usually most notable in the morning and |
| articular cartilage and ankylosis of the joints. | | | | after periods of inactivity. |
| Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when | | | | There is no known cure for arthritis. To date, the goal |
| the body's tissues are mistakenly attacked by their | | | | of treatment in rheumatoid arthritis is to reduce joint |
| own immune system. | | | | inflammation and pain, maximize joint function, and |
| Rheumatoid arthritis can also produce diffuse | | | | prevent joint destruction and deformity. Treatment is |
| inflammation in the lungs, pericardium, pleura, and sclera, | | | | customized according to many factors such as |
| and also nodular lesions, most common in | | | | disease activity, types of joints involved, general health, |
| subcutaneous tissue under the skin. Although the | | | | age, and patient occupation. |
| cause of rheumatoid arthritis is still a mystery, | | | | Various treatments are available. Non-pharmacological |
| autoimmunity plays a pivotal role in both its chronicity | | | | treatment includes physical therapy, orthoses, |
| and progression. | | | | occupational therapy and nutritional therapy. Analgesia |
| The cause of arthritis is unknown. Even though | | | | (painkillers) and anti-inflammatory drugs, including |
| infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi | | | | steroids, are used to suppress the symptoms, while |
| have long been suspected, none has been proven as | | | | disease-modifying anti rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are |
| the cause. It is also suspected that certain infections or | | | | often required to inhibit or halt the underlying immune |
| factors in the environment might trigger the activation | | | | process and prevent long-term damage. In recent |
| of the immune system in susceptible individuals. | | | | times, the newer group of biologics has increased |
| Environmental factors, like smoking, also seem to play | | | | treatment options. |
| some role in causing rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | |