Rheumatoid Arthritis is an auto immune disease, which is characterized by inflammation in the lining of the joints and only affects 1 to 2 percent of the population. This disease often begins with middle aged individuals and is more common in women than men. In saying this, children and young adults can also suffer from this disease.



It doesn't matter what age an arthritis sufferer begins to get symptoms the disease is caused by the same thing. The body's own immune system attacks itself. Though medical knowledge till now is rather limited about the abnormal immune system response, it has at least been established that cells of the immune system travel freely all over the body. They travel through the bloodstream resulting a non-localized disease condition. The manifestation thus starts with one joint first, then spreading to other joints. In saying that, sometimes a number of different joints can suffer from pain simultaneously.

Looking for early signs of this disease has been researched without a lot of success. As the disease progresses, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms sometimes worsen to the point of joint deformity.

You may often experience significant stiffness in the morning, in and around the joints, lasting for more than thirty minutes. The joints in the fingers are the most commonly affected, and they suffer from swelling that is painful, and also prevents free movement of the hands. A warm feeling can also be felt in the affected joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect many other joints, such as the jaw, elbows, shoulders, feet and ankles.

Some less common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include: inflammation of the lining around the heart and lungs. Other areas of the body that can suffer from inflammation are the tear and salivary glands. Other areas of the body 9 after the joints have been suffering ) usually become affected when arthritis isn't treated.

Because the immune system is to blame for the symptoms it doesn't matter if the joints are weight bearing or not, they can all be affected. Also, it usually affects the smaller joints like the elbows, hands, wrists and feet. But there are quite a few exceptions to this.

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms typically come and go, most of the time it is for the rest of the sufferers life. The symptoms can be sever in worst cases, but they can also be mild top moderate. Different drugs and treatments may be prescribed depending on the severity of the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and the stage of progression of the disease.