Rheumatoid arthritis is an ongoing, progressive, autoimmune disease that affects the joints of the body with episodes of painful inflammation. Read the RA Overview ›
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis vary greatly from person to person and can be mild, moderate or severe. At the onset of the disease, the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are often vague and develop slowly. Symptoms may not include the classic symptom of joint pain that people often associate with rheumatoid arthritis.
Learn More About Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis ›Rheumatoid arthritis treatment plans use a multifaceted approach and are individualized to the stage of advancement of the disease and your age, medical history, and coexisting diseases or conditions. There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but with early recognition and treatment, it is possible to minimize or delay joint damage and complications of the disease, such as chronic pain and disability. Because rheumatoid arthritis is progressive and chronic in nature, treatment usually needs to be continuous, even lifelong in some cases.
Special Feature: Finding the Right Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment ›Many people with rheumatoid arthritis believe there's nothing they can do to ease their pain and stiffness. In addition to medications, simple changes in your lifestyle can make it easier to live with arthritis.
Slideshow: 10 Ways to Alleviate Arthritis Pains ›Are you wondering how to better control your symptoms?
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In general, women are 2-3 times more likely than men to develop rheumatoid arthritis.
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