Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect more than just your joints. In some people, the condition can damage a wide variety of body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels. An autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body’s tissues.
Causes
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Normally, your immune system helps protect your body from infection and disease. In rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system attacks healthy tissue in your joints. It can also cause medical problems with your heart, lungs, nerves, eyes and skin.
Symptoms
As the disease progresses, symptoms often spread to the wrists, knees, ankles, elbows, hips and shoulders. In most cases, symptoms occur in the same joints on both sides of your body.
- Skin
- Eyes
- Lungs
- Heart
- Fiver
- Kidneys
- Weight loss
- Salivary glands
- Nerve tissue
- Bone marrow
Complications
- Rheumatoid nodules.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Lung disease.
- Osteoporosis.
- Lymphoma.
Risk factors
- Excess weight.
- Family history.
- Smoking.
