What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of joints and surrounding cartilage and bone, resulting in pain, redness, heat, swelling, and stiffness. It most often affects the hands, including wrist and finger joints, but RA can attack just about any joint in the body: feet, knees, elbows, hips, shoulders, and others.

The inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis not only causes pain but also erodes the cartilage and bone in the affected joints, and it can damage other parts of the body as well, including the heart, lungs, eyes, nervous system, and gastrointestinal tract.

The severity and course of rheumatoid arthritis varies from person to person, and symptoms may come and go (called flares and remissions). Although RA is generally a progressive condition (worsening with time), most treatments now focus on slowing or even stopping its progression in addition to reducing symptoms.

Left untreated -- or undertreated -- as many as 50% of people with RA will experience some degree of disability, so early, aggressive treatment is key.