rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is what is called an autoimmune disease. In this type of disease, a person's immune system (the system in the body responsible for fighting disease) mistakenly attacks the person's own body. In rheumatoid arthritis he parts attacked are the linings of the joints (places in the body where two bones connect). Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in a person's joints and problems with functioning. However, rheumatoid arthritis affects different people in different ways, in terms of the symptoms they have, how serious the symptoms are, and how long the symptoms last. Rheumatoid arthritis is different from other types of arthritis (such as osteoarthritis). For example: Rheumatoid arthritis usually occurs in a symmetrical pattern; for example, if one hand is affected, usually the other will be, too. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease affecting the entire body. A person with rheumatoid arthritis may feel tired and weak, have fevers at times, lose appetite, lose weight, and generally not feel well. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. Even though infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi have long been suspected, none has been proven as the cause. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is a very active area of worldwide research. Some scientists believe that the tendency to develop rheumatoid arthritis may be genetically inherited. It is suspected that certain infections or factors in the environment might trigger the immune system to attack the body's own tissues, resulting in inflammation in various organs of the body such as the lungs or eyes.