Understanding and Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis: Strategies for Easing Arthritis Pain
Understanding and Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis: Strategies for Easing Arthritis Pain Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can cause joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. Unlike the wear-and-tear damage of osteoarthritis, RA affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity. Knowing more about RA and its management can help those affected live better, more comfortable lives. Introduction: A. Definition and Overview of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s tissues. In RA, this process primarily affects the joints, but it can also impact other systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels. It is a condition that causes chronic inflammation, often leading to joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. Unlike some other forms of arthritis, RA can affect the same joints on both si...