Joints, muscles, and connective tissue

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that most often targets the joints, particularly the small joints of the hands and feet, causing pain, swelling, and progressive damage to cartilage and bone. Research describes RA as driven by autoreactive T cells, B cells, and inflammatory cytokines that sustain inflammation in the joint lining, and the condition can also involve the skin, eyes, heart, kidneys, and lungs as it progresses.

RA affects an estimated 1 percent of the global population, though prevalence varies by region, and it is roughly 3 to 4 times more common in women than men.

Common signs

Joint pain, swelling, warmth, and tenderness, often symmetrical, along with prolonged morning stiffness that can last an hour or more. Many people also notice fatigue, low energy, and a general unwell feeling, especially during active periods.

This is a plain-language summary for orientation, not a diagnosis. Mechanisms are described as current understanding, not settled fact. Work with your own clinician for your care.

Where this comes from

Peer-reviewed researchRheumatoid arthritis (Seminar)The Lancet, PubMed, 2023 ↗

Questions people ask

What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?+

Rheumatoid arthritis typically causes joint pain, swelling, warmth, and tenderness that often show up on both sides of the body at once. Morning stiffness is common and can last an hour or more before it eases. Many people also notice fatigue, low energy, and a general unwell feeling, especially during periods when the condition is more active.

Is rheumatoid arthritis more common in women than men?+

Yes. Rheumatoid arthritis is roughly three to four times more common in women than men, and it affects an estimated 1 percent of the global population, though how common it is varies by region.

Is there a cure for rheumatoid arthritis?+

This page doesn't cover treatment or cure. What it does describe is that rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition, driven by autoreactive T cells, B cells, and inflammatory cytokines that sustain inflammation in the joint lining, and that it can cause progressive damage to cartilage and bone and involve other organs, including the skin, eyes, heart, kidneys, and lungs, as it advances. A rheumatologist is the right person to ask about cure or treatment.

In a doctor’s words

“There are six or seven new molecules being discussed and it's our hope that those people who are not responding to current therapies will respond to the new ones.”

Yusuf Yazici, MD, rheumatologist, NYU Langone / Hospital for Joint Diseases
Read more at HealthCentral ↗

Receive the free guide

How to Move Autoimmune Toward Remission

The 3 factors behind an Autoimmune condition and the 2 paths forward, free, straight to your inbox.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Thank you. Please check your email.

Your guide is on its way. You can also open it now (PDF).

Articles from Daniela

Daniela Hess, MSEd, is a co-founder of Great Energy and an Autoimmune Educator and Functional Wellness Consultant who lives and thrives with Hashimoto’s. She is not a licensed medical provider.

Autoimmunity explained: what the immune system is doing and why Your microbiome: why diversity is the goal and how AIP supports it Intestinal permeability and autoimmunity: the gate that should be closed

AIP recipes to try

A place to start in the kitchen while you work on this with your own clinician:

AIP Salad Recipes AIP Soup and Stew Recipes AIP Smoothie, Tea, and Tonic Recipes AIP Main Dish Recipes

All autoimmune conditions See the 6-week course