A 30-year-old member asked:
What causes ra (rheumatoid arthritis)?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

Dr. Jay Parkanswered
Pediatrics 52 years experience
Unknown: Synovial tissue inside joints become inflamed and damaged by chronic inflammation. The exact triggers are still elusive.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 37-year-old member asked:
Can a person have a negative RA titre have rheumatoid arthritis?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

Dr. Shawn Hennigananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 29 years experience
Arthritis: There are many types of arthritis, some of which are degenerative or post-traumatic. The other general kind of arthritis is inflammatory. The classification of type requires a history, examination, diagnostic x-rays, and if indicated, blood tests. Treatment is determined by type of arthritis.
Not all patients with RA have positive blood tests. Occasionally, blood tests are done a few times.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
What is the difference between RA (rheumatoid arthritis) and oa (osteoarthritis)?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A Verified Doctoranswered
Rheumatology 54 years experience
Too many to mention: Ra is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of large and small joints in all extremities. Oa is more of a wear and tear type of arthritis. There are numerous other differences.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
What causes a rheumatoid arthritis to show up?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

Dr. Thomas Nameyanswered
Rheumatology 50 years experience
We don't know....: Prior infectious mononucleosis appears to be necessary. Age and sex are important. Uncommon before 18, usually age of onset 35, and 7-10 x more likely in women than men. The cxuase remanes unknown. Good treatments exist to put virtually all patients in remission.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
What is the cause of rheumatoid arthritis?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

Dr. David Trueanswered
Internal Medicine - Rheumatology 26 years experience
Cause of RA: The exact cause is unknown. Leading theories are that people with a genetic predisposition are exposed to something in the environment that triggers an abnormal immune response leading to rheumatoid arthritis.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
What causes a rheumatoid arthritis flare?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Ahmad M Hadiedanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 51 years experience
Several factors: Stress
one frequently reported factor in rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups is stress.Some foods can trigger arthritis flare-ups. Among these, cow's milk is the most often cited, but shrimp, wheat and some meats, hen's eggs and codfish also are implicated.
Echinacea
echinacea has been cited as a possible cause of flare-ups in those with rheumatoid arthritis, .
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Feb 8, 2020
People also asked
Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere.
24/7 visits - just $39!
50% off with $15/month membership
Disclaimer:
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.