Facts About Rheumatoid Arthritis “RA”

WHAT IT IS

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects at least 1.5 million American adults, about three-fourths of whom are women. It is thought to be triggered by a faulty immune system.

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE

RA can come with fatigue, a low fever, little appetite, pain, limited movement and stiffness that can last for hours, especially in the morning. People with severe RA can also develop lumps called rheumatoid nodules under the skin near affected joints, which can be painful.

COMMON ARTHRITIS-RELATED DISEASES

While OA and RA may be the most commonly recognized types of arthritis, there are other related conditions that are often found in other adults. They include:

• Fibromyalgia- A condition that causes pain in the muscles and soft tissues and is often accompanied by fatigue, poor sleep and sensitivity to touch, especially in certain tender points on the body.
• Gout- A condition that occurs when the body produces too much of a substance called uric acid, which can lead to the development of uric acid crystals in the joint (typically the big toe) and causes severe pain and swelling.
• Osteoporosis- One of the most common arthritis-related diseases, this condition causes bone to lose mass and become thin and brittle, which can lead to painful fractures, rounded shoulders and loss of height.