Rheumatoid arthritis is a crippling disease that affects young and old alike. Although there is no cure for this autoimmune disorder, there are a variety of treatment options, ranging from medication, to natural remedies, to lifestyle changes. Read on to learn more about rheumatoid arthritis, including symptoms, treatment options, and more.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder which causes joint pain and swelling due to the inflammatory processes. It is an ongoing disease, as the immune system starts affecting the antibodies present in the blood of a patient. Various other internal organs of the body are also affected due to this disease. In severe cases, there appear deformities in hands, wrists, knees and feet. This is the worst type of arthritis, as in this type the immune system itself mistakenly prey on body tissues assuming them to be foreign bodies. Thus, the antibodies are created and destroyed by the body itself.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease due to the severe effects on various organs of the body, and also due to the fact that it's not completely curable. There are cases in which the symptoms do not appear right away, sometime even for years. It has been observed that with the passage of time, RA shows aggressive progression in deformity, leading to restricted movement and functional disability in sufferers.

Various researches have been done on finding out the root cause of this disease, but are inconclusive. There is some evidence which show that fungi, bacteria or other microorganism might be one of the causes of the disease, however, the obvious cause is still not known. Some researchers are of the view that there might be some environmental factors involved in the malfunctioning of the immune system. However, it is proved that rheumatoid arthritis is a hereditary disease.

Research has shown that smoking can increase the risk factors involved in the progression of the disease to a considerable extent. At times, the symptoms are evident, while at other times they just disappear. However, it is essential not to confuse rheumatoid arthritis with osteoarthritis. It is not an age or gender specific disease. However, its ratio is more in females as compared to males. Juvenile arthritis can also occur, but it is quite rare. Infections, emotional trauma, and tissue injuries are the most evident triggers of the disease. At present, there is no permanent cure of this disease. However, surgery can be done depending upon the severity of the disease.

Blood tests can show the presence of the rheumatoid factor in the patient's blood. The treatment of this disease can be ensured by regular low-pace workout and proper medication. Additionally, therapeutic and medicinal intervention is necessary to prevent the worsening effects of the disease.