Disease of the Month: Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune disease causing inflammation in multiple joints. The disease must not be confused with osteoarthritis, which is caused by mechanical wear and tear on joints.  Most commonly, the wrist and hands are involved, with the same joints typically involved on both sides of the body. The disease can spread to other joints and other parts of the body. There may be periods where symptoms become worse, known as flare-ups or flares. A flare can be difficult to predict, but with treatment it's possible to decrease the number of flares and ...