Rheumatoid Arthritis Affects The Body

Arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory disorder affecting the lining of the joints. Although Arthritis mainly affects the joints, it can also affect other parts of the body such as the eyes, lungs, blood vessels and skin. Many different types of arthritis exist. A common type is Osteoarthritis, which is caused by natural wear and tear of the body. The cartilage loses its elasticity, becomes more stiff, wears away and the bones end up rubbing each other. Rheumatoid arthritis however, is an auto-immune disorder. The immune system mistakenly attacks the synovial membrane, causing a deformity or loss of function of the joints. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , an estimated 50 million U.S adults have doctor-diagnosed …show more content…
It can progress at a faster rate, but only in rare cases. The inflammation of the lining of the joints (synovia) causes a breakdown in cartilage and loosens ligaments and tendons that support the joints. This results in joint destruction and deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that has genetic and environmental factors. Epigenetics, inherited genes, smoking and microbial infections can lead to altered post-transcriptional regulation. This alters proteins, which in turn stimulates an autoimmune response. Immune cells are recruited to the synovial fluid, which causes inflammation. This inflammation causes pain, bone and cartilage deterioration and joint deformities. Some other complications also arise from the cytokines released from the immune …show more content…
There are both genetic and environmental factors involved in Rheumatoid arthritis. The immune response may also be triggered by some foreign substance in the joints (bacteria, virus, etc.). Women are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. It can occur at any age, but it most commonly begins between the ages of 40 and 60. It is believed that if a member of your family has rheumatoid arthritis, then you may have an increased risk of acquiring the disease. The genetics aspect is not fully understood, but families may pass down a gene that is responsible for the autoimmune response. A person with Rheumatoid arthritis has a higher risk of developing Osteoporosis, Carpal tunnel syndrome, heart problems and lung disease. The main reasons for this is due to the inflammation that Rheumatoid Arthritis causes, because of medications taken, or some other reasons we may not know of

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