Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest updates and how to get care. Or use the virtual assistant below right to check symptoms.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune condition that damages the lining of your joints.
If you have RA, you may experience persistent inflammation and joint pain — specifically in your wrists, hands, ankles, and feet. This inflammation can also damage other parts of your body, including your eyes, skin, kidney, lungs, and heart.
Dignity Health provides noninvasive therapies and minimally invasive surgery for rheumatoid arthritis. Find a Doctor to access the orthopedic services you need.
In the early stages of RA, your symptoms may develop gradually and then become more pronounced as time goes on. The most common first sign is stiffness in your joints early in the morning. You may also experience fatigue, loss of appetite, weakness, and general muscle achiness.
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis typically affect both sides of your body and may include:
Other seemingly unrelated symptoms may include:
Be sure to speak with a Dignity Health doctor if you have any of the symptoms listed above. Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the risk of damage or deformity to your joints, bone loss, and proper joint function.
RA is an autoimmune disease and therefore develops as a result of your immune system mistakenly attacking healthy tissues in your body.
Your immune system works by creating inflammation to kill invading bacteria and viruses. When it instead inflames your healthy tissue, it can cause damage over time.
It isn’t fully known what causes the immune system to misfire. Genetics, diet, hormones, and previous injuries may all increase risk.
Here are some of the common types of RA diagnoses, including juvenile and adult onset:
Factors associated with increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis include:
Some risk factors, such as age, gender, and genetics, can’t be changed. However, it is possible to reduce your risk of developing RA by:
If you are diagnosed with RA, you can prevent severe complications by seeking treatment as quickly as possible. Managing RA symptoms through medication can delay its progression and help reduce the damage caused to your joints from swelling.
The information contained in this article is meant for educational purposes only and should not replace advice from your healthcare provider.