When getting a new diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis, I find that most people need to start with the basics. It can be overwhelming. I know that not much beyond “You have Rheumatoid Arthritis” is heard and that everyone will need time to digest all the information out there.
So let’s talk about some Rheumatoid Arthritis facts and start with “What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?” RA is an autoimmune, systemic, inflammatory disorder. Seen in almost 1% of the US population, RA is more often seen in women compared to men and usually happens during middle age.
RA isn’t the only autoimmune systemic inflammatory disorder, but this is one way we differentiate it from osteoarthritis, which is simply a condition of degeneration of the joint. “Autoimmune” simply means the immune system has turned on itself and now is attacking your own body. “Systemic” means the entire “system” or body is affected and “inflammatory”, simply indicates that inflammation is what drives the symptoms and the potential joint damage.
[Read more…] about Know the facts: Rheumatoid Arthritis (part 1)