Other organs that can feel the effects of rheumatoid arthritis include the heart, skin, and lungs.

Although best known for the pain and swelling in the joints, rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease, which means it can affect other organs in the body. A study that followed 609 people for several decades found that more than 40 percent developed health problems in places other than their joints.

While this information is not meant to scare you, it's important to know some of the other conditions linked to rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Your Heart

A fairly common heart-related problem in people with rheumatoid arthritis is pericarditis. During this ailment, the pericardium — the covering around your heart — gets inflamed. This may occur in 30 to 50 percent of people with rheumatoid arthritis. Symptoms include sharp chest pain, trouble breathing, and fatigue. Your doctor can treat the problem with drugs, but people with severe cases may need to have part of the pericardium removed by surgery.

In addition, research has shown that people with rheumatoid arthritis may have two to three times the risk of heart attack, congestive heart failure, and death related to a cardiovascular cause. The inflammation that causes joint problems can also cause plaque buildup in your arteries, which can bring on a heart attack.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Your Skin

In general, your skin can become thinner and easily bruised. You may also get ridges in your nails. About one-fourth of people with rheumatoid arthritis develop little bumps called rheumatoid nodules, which are usually painless and, in most cases, don't need to be treated.

Raynaud's phenomenon, in which the fingers and toes grow pale — and even blue — due to cold temperatures or emotional stress, is also common. Keeping hands and feet warm and avoiding smoking can help prevent problems.

Sjögren's syndrome (pronounced "SHOW-grins") is a common autoimmune disorder found in RA patients. This chronic condition affects certain glands in the mouth, eyes, and other body parts, causing dryness. It can also cause eyes to feel burning and gritty and the mouth and throat to feel dry and sore. Your doctor can suggest eye drops and other treatments to keep you more comfortable.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Your Lungs

In many people, rheumatoid arthritis affects the pleura of the lungs. The pleura consists of two sheets of tissue in your chest with a layer of fluid between them. People can develop effusion, or too much fluid, between these sheets. This may need to be treated by being drained or with drugs.

You may also be more likely to develop interstitial lung disease, says E. William St. Clair, MD, a professor and rheumatoid arthritis expert at the Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C. This is a group of problems that causes swelling and scarring in the lungs, which in turn can cause shortness of breath. Anti-inflammatory drugs are often used to treat this condition.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Your Lymphatic System

A number of studies have found that people with rheumatoid arthritis have a one and a half to four times higher risk of developing lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system) than those without rheumatoid arthritis. It seems, however, that people with more severe rheumatoid arthritis may have a greater risk of lymphoma, and people with milder degrees of the disease face little extra risk.