There are literally hundreds of different types of arthritis that a person can develop, but rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common. Although there are many similarities between rheumatoid arthritis and the other types, there are just as many differences and this is one of the most serious types of arthritis.

What it is

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases occur when the body tissues are mistakenly attacked by its own immune system, and the results of this can be incredibly dangerous, even potentially life threatening. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic illness, which means that it can develop and then last for a lifetime.

Causes

There are a few known causes of rheumatoid arthritis to date. Genetic factors are thought to play a major role in most cases, as researchers have recently found that the tendency to develop this condition is related to specific genes. However there are also many people who develop this condition that do not have a family history of the disease and so this is not always the case.

Environmental factors are also thought to be one of the most primary causes of rheumatoid arthritis. This includes exposure to bacteria or by following a certain diet. Some scientists have even found that patients with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely than those without it to have been exposed to the bacterium Proteus mirabilis.

Treatment

Regardless of what the cause of your arthritis is you will obviously not be able to go back in time and avoid these causes and so what you should be focusing on now is treatment. Although as of yet there is no cure for the disease there are certainly many options when it comes to treating it and relieving the symptoms associated with it.

Treatment typically includes medicine exercise and serious lifestyle changes. If you are a smoker or drink excessively for instance these are habits that you are going to want to break, in order to relieve your symptoms and prevent the arthritis from worsening.

The most important thing you can do is keep in close contact with your doctor and make sure that you keep them up to date on your condition, how you are feeling, and whether you are making any improvement. With their help and your cooperation you will be able to effectively treat your condition and gain at least some relief. There is also medication available which can be taken to help with the inflammation and joint pain.