Rheumatoid Arthritis Quiz

RA in adults most often affects the wrists and fingers. It can also affect the neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, ankles and feet, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). People with RA also may feel fatigue and have occasional fevers. They may also develop anemia, and dry eyes and mouth.

RA varies from person to person. Sometimes it lasts a few months to a few years and then vanishes, the NIAMS says. In some people, the disease ebbs and flows, with periods of flare-ups, when symptoms worsen, and periods of remission, when symptoms ease. Other people develop severe RA, which lasts for many years and causes joint damage and disability

An autoimmune disease means that the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues. In RA, the immune system attacks the joints, destroying cartilage and bone. Doctors don't know why this occurs, but they think that most of the damage that occurs in RA happens in the first year or two, the NIAMS says. That's why it's important to diagnose and treat RA as early as possible.

Other forms of arthritis also are more common in women. RA usually begins in middle age, but it can affect younger adults and even children, the NIAMS says.

Doctors believe that many genes play a role in boosting the risk for RA, but genetics isn't the only factor, the NIAMS says. Even when a person has the genes associated with RA, he or she may not develop the disease. Something in the environment—an infection, say—may trigger RA in a person who is susceptible to it. Hormones also may be involved; RA often eases with pregnancy and flares up after delivery.

RA symptoms are often similar to those of other diseases and conditions, so it is often difficult to diagnose RA when the first symptoms appear, the NIAMS says. A health care provider will make the diagnosis after a physical exam, a look at a person's medical history, blood tests, and X-rays. One blood test looks for an antibody called rheumatoid factor; this test doesn't always identify people with RA, however, particularly when the disease is in its early stage. Other blood tests, including a white blood cell count and an anemia test, may help to make the diagnosis when the disease is more advanced.

A doctor who specializes in RA and other forms of arthritis is a rheumatologist. Primary health care providers also can treat RA, the NIAMS says.

This is true for both men and women, and the risk is greater if you take corticosteroids for RA. Talk to your health care provider about how to counteract the effects of RA and/or the medication. You may need calcium and vitamin D supplements or other preventive treatment, the NIAMS says.

Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish, and certain plant oils may reduce inflammation, the NIAMS says. Unfortunately, the amount of oils or fats needed is more than most people can consume. No specific nutrient or supplement helps relieve RA symptoms, but a nutritious, balanced diet is important to overall health. If you take medications for RA, you may need to limit or avoid alcohol because of the potential for drug-alcohol interaction.