What is rheumatoid arthritis ?

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that typically affects the small joints in your hands and feet. Rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder, this occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body's tissues.

Autoimmune disease: Ra occurs when our immune system attacks the linings of our joints causing pain and stiffness. Small and large joints can be affected. Fatigue is common. Treatment helps the symptoms and also prevents future joint damage and disability. There are many treatments available. Common treatments include disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs or dmards. These include methotrexate, enbrel, (etanercept) and humira.

AComplicatedDisease: Basically, rheumatoid arthritis is a problem with your body's (so, let's say 'your') immune system. It is supposed to defend against foreign invaders (viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc) but for some reason it now thinks parts of your joints (and parts of other organs) are now foreign and start trying to dismantle and remove them (to varying degrees). the results are varying degrees of premature aging

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Arthritis means inflammation of joints. RA is a common form of arthritis. (There are various other causes of arthritis and RA is just one cause.) About 1 in 100 people develop RA at some stage in their lives. It can happen to anyone. It is not an hereditary disease. It can develop at any age, but most commonly starts between the ages of 40 and 60.http://patient.info/health/rheumatoid-arthritis-leaflet