What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease. This means your immune system mistakenly attacks the healthy lining of your joints. This causes painful swelling that can eventually lead to bone erosion and joint deformity if not properly treated. RA often affects smaller joints first, like those in your fingers and toes, and then larger joints like wrists, knees, ankles, and elbows.

Common RA symptoms

While every experience is unique, common RA symptoms may include:

  • Morning stiffness lasting over 30 minutes
  • Occasional fever and loss of appetite
  • Warm, tender joints
  • Fatigue and low energy
  • Painful, swollen joints

Self-care tips

Managing RA starts with daily habits, including:

  • Regular gentle exercise like walking, swimming, or yoga
  • Eating anti-inflammatory foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish
  • Practicing relaxation techniques to manage stress

Specialty medications

A variety of specialty medications are available for RA. They help by blocking specific proteins in your immune system that cause inflammation. This reduces joint swelling, pain, and prevents joint damage, improving your quality of life.

While specialty medications for rheumatoid arthritis can be highly effective, they may cause side effects like injection site reactions, headaches, nausea, or increased risk of infection. Contact your doctor right away if you experience fever, chills, a persistent cough, or any unusual symptoms.

Medications used for RA

An AndHealth Rheumatoid Arthritis patient

This is how all healthcare should be.”

Don, AndHealth Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient

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65% less inflammation

Measured C-reactive protein (CRP) in lab results

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