Arthritis (inflammation of the joints) is a generally-used term to define diseases where there is damage caused to the joints of the body. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disabling and painful form of the condition that affects 1 in 50 people and can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction.
This chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder causes the immune system to attack the joints, making them swollen, stiff and painful. It can occur at any age, but is more likely in people aged over 40. It is a systemic disease (i.e. it can involve more than one system in the body), often affecting other tissues throughout the body such as the muscles, skin, blood vessels, heart and lungs.
Although in many cases, rheumatoid arthritis may be very mild with few symptoms, it can be severe and disabling for around 5% of sufferers.
In this section, you'll find information on the causes and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, along with details on how it may be diagnosed and treated.
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