Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Paper

Introduction
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a long term, chronic disease that causes stiffness, pain, and swelling as well as it limits the motion and function of many joints. According to (Martini & Bartholomew, 2013)Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease where antibodies attack connective tissues around the joints. In response to this abnormal immunity reaction it causes inflammation that can damage the joints, it can also lead to other issues in other organs like the heart and lungs. It is one of the most common types of autoimmune arthritis disorders.
What Causes Rheumatoid Arthritis?
The exact source of RA is unknown says (Siddharth & Ruderman, 2014) although studies have shown that 75% of cases to get RA are women. Other risk factors …show more content…
What triggers this is still unknown but there is belief that genetics paired with external factors set off some kind of chain reaction that triggers this to happen. Once the body starts attacking the synovial membrane of the joints they become red, inflamed and swollen. Which can overtime lead to destruction of the cartilage within the joint itself, causing yet more pain and …show more content…
Typically it occurs most commonly in the areas that have the most movement like the hands, wrists, feet, knees and ankles. RA often begins to develop slowly, early on patients can commonly begin to feel joint pain, fatigue and stiffness. Other symptoms like chest pain, sleep difficulties, dry eyes and mouth can accompany RA and the common symptoms, most of which are signs of a more serious disease like nodules under the skin. Overtime, the joints can become disfigured and lose their range of motion and possibly become deformed.
Can You Test For RA? Most patients diagnosed with RA show abnormalities in other ways. Rheumatoid factor test and Anti-CCP antibody test are two test done in the lab that often help in diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis. There are a series of other tests that can be performed to aide in the diagnosis of RA like ultrasounds or MRIs, complete blood count, synovial fluid analysis, x-rays and others. None are definitive tests for RA but through most it can be closely determined.
How Is RA

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