Arthritis Overview

Arthritis is a group of more than 100 diseases that cause pain, swelling, and damage to a person's joints and the surrounding tissues. The exact cause of arthritis is unknown. Approximately 46 million Americans suffer from its effects and it is the leading cause of disability according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Common forms of arthritis include:

• Osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative joint disease) is the most common form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis can result from trauma to the joint, an infection of the joint, or aging. Over time the joint bone and cartilage deteriorate.
• Gout (also known as gouty arthritis) is caused by uric acid deposits in the joints. Acute gout flare-ups cause extremely painful, red, hot, and swollen joints.
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus produces antibodies that cause inflammation and tissue damage throughout the body. Lupus is believed to be an autoimmune disease, associated with possible genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors.
• Fibromyalgia is characterized by muscular pains and fatigue. Fibromyalgia is believed to be caused by genetics, and physical and emotional factors.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease that primarily affects the lining of the joints.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic (lifelong) disease with no known cause. The distinguishing feature of rheumatoid arthritis is symmetric joint inflammation. The joints on both sides of the body become inflamed (such as both wrists or both knees). The symmetric nature of the inflammation is one of the factors doctors use to differentiate rheumatoid arthritis from the other forms of arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Instead of fighting off viruses and bacteria, the immune system attacks joint tissue as well as tissue in other parts of the body. As the disease progresses, the inflammation can become quite painful and often results in damage to the joints. Other body organs often become affected, such as a person's skin, blood vessels, lungs, and eyes.

Approximately 2 million Americans and 1% of the population worldwide develop rheumatoid arthritis. The disease doesn't discriminate among age, race, or ethnicity. Rheumatoid arthritis is, however, two-thirds more common in women than men. Experts suspect that hormones might be the primary cause of this inequality. The likelihood of developing rheumatoid arthritis after 60 increases with age and the prognosis is usually poorer for people who develop the disease late in life. The good news is that new cases of rheumatoid arthritis are becoming less common, although no one knows why.