{"id":950,"date":"2025-08-30T18:45:30","date_gmt":"2025-08-30T14:45:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthfinder.ae\/blog\/?post_type=glossary&#038;p=950"},"modified":"2025-08-30T23:24:59","modified_gmt":"2025-08-30T19:24:59","slug":"rheumatoid-arthritis","status":"publish","type":"glossary","link":"https:\/\/healthfinder.ae\/blog\/glossary\/rheumatoid-arthritis\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Rheumatoid Arthritis in Medical Terms?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that primarily affects the joints, causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and potential joint damage. Unlike osteoarthritis, which is caused by wear and tear of the cartilage, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the body\u2019s immune system mistakenly attacks the synovium, the lining of the joints, leading to inflammation and damage. Over time, this inflammation can affect not only the joints but also other organs and systems in the body, including the heart, lungs, and eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-952 size-full\" title=\"rheumatoid-arthritis\" src=\"https:\/\/healthfinder.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rheumatoid-arthritis.webp\" alt=\"rheumatoid-arthritis\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/healthfinder.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rheumatoid-arthritis.webp 1536w, https:\/\/healthfinder.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rheumatoid-arthritis-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/healthfinder.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rheumatoid-arthritis-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/healthfinder.ae\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rheumatoid-arthritis-768x512.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The symptoms of RA can vary in severity and may come and go, but common signs include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, especially in the hands, wrists, knees, and feet.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Morning stiffness that lasts for more than 30 minutes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Fatigue and fever.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Rheumatoid nodules: Firm lumps that form under the skin near affected joints.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Loss of joint function and deformities, particularly in the hands and feet, if left untreated.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not fully understood, but several factors contribute to its development:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Genetics<\/strong>: A family history of RA increases the likelihood of developing the condition, with certain genes playing a role in immune system regulation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Immune system dysfunction<\/strong>: RA occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues, especially in the joints, leading to chronic inflammation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Hormonal factors<\/strong>: Women are more likely to develop RA than men, particularly during the reproductive years, which suggests hormonal influences may be involved.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Environmental factors<\/strong>: Exposure to environmental factors like tobacco smoke, infection, or certain viruses may trigger the onset of RA in genetically predisposed individuals.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Age<\/strong>: RA can develop at any age, but it is most commonly diagnosed in people between the ages of 40 and 60.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>When to See a Doctor Rheumatoid Arthritis?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Seek medical advice for possible rheumatoid arthritis if:<\/strong> you have persistent joint pain, swelling, or stiffness. Be aware of red flags such as fainting, chest pain, or confusion, which may require emergency care.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Related Terms of Rheumatoid Arthritis<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" title=\"Chronic Kidney Disease\" href=\"https:\/\/healthfinder.ae\/blog\/glossary\/chronic-kidney-disease\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chronic Kidney Disease<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" title=\"Liver Cirrhosis\" href=\"https:\/\/healthfinder.ae\/blog\/glossary\/liver-cirrhosis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Liver Cirrhosis<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>FAQs for Rheumatoid Arthritis<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>When should I go to the ER for rheumatoid arthritis?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you experience severe symptoms such as chest pain, confusion, or fainting, seek emergency care.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>How can heat and dehydration affect rheumatoid arthritis?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In hot climates like the UAE, dehydration can exacerbate symptoms; ensure adequate hydration, especially during fasting or long-haul travel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>What are some ways to reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and a balanced diet, may help lower risk factors.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that primarily affects the joints, causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and potential joint damage. Unlike osteoarthritis, which is caused by wear and tear of the cartilage, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the body\u2019s immune system mistakenly attacks the synovium, the lining of the joints, leading to inflammation and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":952,"parent":0,"template":"","glossary-cat":[],"class_list":["post-950","glossary","type-glossary","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthfinder.ae\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary\/950","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthfinder.ae\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthfinder.ae\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/glossary"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthfinder.ae\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/healthfinder.ae\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary\/950\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1117,"href":"https:\/\/healthfinder.ae\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary\/950\/revisions\/1117"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthfinder.ae\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/952"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthfinder.ae\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"glossary-cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthfinder.ae\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary-cat?post=950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}