Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease where the body's natural immune system does not operate properly, resulting in the immune system attacking healthy joint tissue and causing inflammation and subsequent joint damage. This typically chronic disease can affect the entire body, specifically targeting joints and sometimes internal organs.

How Does RA Affect the Body?

RA is characterized by the inflammation of the membrane lining the joint, which causes pain, stiffness, warmth, redness and swelling. The inflamed joint lining, the synovium, can invade and damage bone and cartilage. Inflammatory cells release enzymes that may digest bone and cartilage. The involved joint can lose its shape and alignment, resulting in pain and loss of movement.

What Are the Symptoms of RA?

Symptoms of RA include inflammation of joints, swelling, difficulty moving and pain. Other symptoms that affect the entire body include loss of appetite, fever, loss of energy and anemia.

Early in the disease, people may notice general fatigue, soreness, stiffness and aching. Pain and swelling may occur in the same joints on both sides of the body and will usually start in the hands or feet. RA affects the wrist and many of the hand joints, but usually not the joints that are closest to the fingernails (except the thumb). RA also can affect elbows, shoulders, neck, knees, hips and ankles. It tends to persist over prolonged periods of time, and over time, inflamed joints may become damaged. Other features include lumps, called rheumatoid nodules, under the skin in areas that receive pressure, such as the back of the elbows.

Who Gets RA?

Over 2.1 million Americans have RA. The disease often begins in the middle-aged years of life, and it is more commonly found in women.