Lesson Three - Musculoskeletal
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Rheumatoid Arthritis
What is it?
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder that causes the body’s immune system to attack the patient's own body systems leading to inflammation. Over time, this inflammation destroys joint tissues. This, in turn, leads to a
limited ability to do daily activities and makes it hard for the patient to walk and/or use their hands.
Courtesy of MyHealth.Alberta.ca.
The reproduction is not represented as an official version of the materials reproduced, nor as having been made in affiliation with or without the endorsement of Alberta Health or AHS.
The reproduction is not represented as an official version of the materials reproduced, nor as having been made in affiliation with or without the endorsement of Alberta Health or AHS.
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You will recall that osteoarthritis is the wearing down of a single joint (although it is possible to get osteoarthritis in multiple joints). In contrast, rheumatoid arthritis usually affects multiple joints on both sides of the body.
Joints most commonly affected are the hands, wrists, elbows, feet, ankles, knees, or neck. Within these joints a patient may feel:
Very rarely, the autoimmune disorder that causes rheumatoid arthritis also affects the eyes, lungs, heart, nerves, or blood vessels. These rare cases are severe.
- pain
- stiffness
- swelling
Very rarely, the autoimmune disorder that causes rheumatoid arthritis also affects the eyes, lungs, heart, nerves, or blood vessels. These rare cases are severe.
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Things that increase the risk of getting rheumatoid arthritis include:
- being female
- being middle-aged
- smoking
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