The Basics of Rheumatoid Arthritis
According to the Arthritis Foundation, an estimated 67 million Americans will have some form of arthritis by 2030. Arthritis is a general term that refers to a condition that causes inflammation in a joint, which is characterized by redness, warmth, swelling, and pain within the joint.
Specifically, rheumatoid arthritis is a type of chronic arthritis that normally occurs in joints on both sides of the body, such as hands, wrists, or knees. The symmetry of this condition helps to distinguish it from other types of arthritis. In addition to affecting the joints, rheumatoid arthritis may also affect the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, blood, or nerves.
The most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include joint pain and swelling, stiffness, especially in the morning or after sitting for long periods, and fatigue. Affecting about 1 percent of the U.S. population, most people experience joint symptoms which develop gradually over several years. However, for some rheumatoid arthritis can progress rapidly, or it may strike for a limited period of time and then enter a period of remission. Rheumatoid arthritis is two to three times more common in women than in men, but men tend to be more severely affected by the disease. Read more…
