Rheumatoid Arthritis Articles

Rheumatoid Arthritis Causes

The cause of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not known. Researchers suspect that a combination of genetic susceptibility and other factors — viral or bacterial infection, hormones, or environmental factors — is responsible for RA. However, no one rea...

Jul 29 2010

Rheumatoid Arthritis Complications

If not treated properly, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) will cause steadily worse problems, ranging from lifestyle disruptions to severe joint damage and other health conditions.

Jul 29 2010

Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis

Because rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects each patient differently, there is no surefire way to determine whether someone has the disease. Doctors look at a combination of symptoms, blood tests, and X-rays to diagnose RA.

Jul 29 2010

Rheumatoid Arthritis Doctors

A primary healthcare provider — an internist or family practice physician—should be your first stop if you experience any RA symptoms. He or she can perform tests and exams to help determine if you do in fact have RA, prescribe a preliminary round...

Jul 29 2010

Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs

Most rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients take a combination of multiple drugs both to manage symptoms and slow or stop joint damage. Many RA drugs have the potential for severe side effects, and some reduce immune-system function, which makes peopl...

Jul 29 2010

Rheumatoid Arthritis Overview

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease. The immune system normally identifies and destroys foreign substances in the body, such as viruses and bacteria; in an autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakes the body's own cells for inva...

Jul 29 2010

Rheumatoid Arthritis Prevention

There is no known way to prevent arthritis because the exact causes are still unknown. However, there are ways to reduce the chance of severe joint damage after an RA diagnosis.

Jul 10 2010

Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk Factors

As mysterious as the causes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are, there are a number of clear risk factors that increase a person's chance of developing RA.

Jul 29 2010

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Some symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are the direct result of damage to the joints, while others are due to the widespread effects of an overactive immune system.

Jul 29 2010