It is unclear what the genetic link is, but it is thought that having a relative with the condition increases your chance of developing the condition. If you are overweight, you have a significantly greater chance of developing rheumatoid arthritis than if you are a healthy weight. The body mass index BMI is a measure that calculates if your weight is healthy, using your height and weight. To work out your BMI, use the healthy weight calculator.
Cigarette smoking significantly increases the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. If you would like to stop smoking, visit the Smokefree website. This is because:. Physical activity is also important, as it can improve your symptoms and benefit your overall health. Blood tests and x-rays will help your doctor assess how fast your arthritis is developing and what the outlook for the future may be.
This will also help your doctor to decide which form of treatment to recommend. The outlook for people with rheumatoid arthritis is improving all the time, as new and more effective treatments become available.
It is possible to lead a full and active life with the condition, but it is important to take your medication as prescribed and make necessary lifestyle changes. A diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is based on your symptoms, a physical examination and the results of x-rays, scans and blood tests. It can be difficult to diagnose because there isn't a test that can prove you definitely have it. There are also quite a few conditions that have the same symptoms. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and do a physical examination.
They will look for swollen joints and check how well your joints move. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect different parts of your body at once, so it's important to tell your doctor about all the symptoms you've had, even if they don't seem to be related.
If they think you have rheumatoid arthritis, they will refer you to a rheumatologist and may arrange blood tests to help confirm a diagnosis. There's no single blood test that can confirm you have rheumatoid arthritis. However, there are a few tests that can show possible signs of the condition.
Some of the main tests are outlined below. A sample of your red blood cells are put into a test tube of liquid. The cells are timed to see how long they take to get to the bottom of the tube. If the cells sink faster than usual, you may have levels of inflammation that are higher than normal. Rheumatoid arthritis is just one possible cause. This test can show if there is inflammation in your body. It does this by checking how much CRP there is in your blood.
If there is more CRP than usual, you may have inflammation in your body. A full blood count measures the number of red blood cells you have. These carry iron around your body, and a low number of red blood cells means you have a low iron content. This may mean you have anaemia an-ee-me-er and is common in people with RA, although having anaemia doesn't prove you have RA. About half of all people with rheumatoid arthritis have rheumatoid factor in their blood when the condition starts.
However, around 1 in every 20 people without rheumatoid arthritis also test positive for rheumatoid factor. There is another antibody test called anti-CCP that you can take. People who test positive for anti-CCP are very likely to get rheumatoid arthritis.
However, not everyone that has the condition has this antibody. Scans may be used to check for joint inflammation and damage. These can be used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis and to check how the condition is developing. There are a variety of treatments available for rheumatoid arthritis.
The earlier that intensive treatment is started, the more likely it is to work. Many people with rheumatoid arthritis need to take more than one drug. This is because different drugs work in different ways. Your drug treatments may be changed from time to time. This can depend on how bad your symptoms are, or because something relating to your condition has changed. Drugs may be available under several different names.
Each drug has an approved name — sometimes called a generic name. Manufacturers often give their own brand or trade name to the drug as well.
For example, Nurofen is a brand name for ibuprofen. Painkillers can help to relieve the pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis, but should not be the only treatment used. There are many types and strengths of painkillers available — some can be bought over the counter from a pharmacy, while some are only available on prescription.
It is important to keep taking your medication during this time. For more information on the types of drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, see our drugs content. Corticosteroids help to reduce the pain, stiffness and inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis.
They're usually used to provide short-term pain relief. Corticosteroids are normally only used in this way because long-term use of corticosteroids can have serious side effects, including weight gain, osteoporosis and thinning of the skin.
It can be dangerous to stop steroids suddenly. NSAIDs can be used to help control symptoms of pain, swelling or stiffness. They can be used in combination with painkillers. When your symptoms get worse, this is known as a flare-up. These can happen at any time, but can happen after you have been stressed or had an infection.
It may be that you need to review your treatment. Heated items that could help your joint pain include a hot water bottle or electric heat pad. Wrap these in a towel, then place on a painful joint. You could also try having a hot or warm shower or bath. Other heated items that people have found useful are wheat bag, heat pads, deep heat cream, or a heat lamp. Make sure these items are warm but not hot, as you could risk burning or scalding yourself.
Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Rheumatoid arthritis. Accessed Feb. Rheumatoid arthritis. American College of Rheumatology. Matteson EL, et al. Overview of the systemic and nonarticular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis. Goldman L, et al. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine.
Elsevier; Ferri FF. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Kellerman RD, et al. In: Conn's Current Therapy Moreland LW, et al. General principles and overview of management of rheumatoid arthritis in adults. Xeljanz, Xeljanz XR tofacitinib : Drug safety communication — Initial safety trial results find increased risk of serious heart-related problems and cancer with arthritis and ulcerative colitis medicine.
Office of Patient Education. While there is no cure, it can be treated. Symptoms of RA range from mild to severe. Sometimes RA affects one joint at a time, but more typically it presents as pain, warmth, and swelling in the joints on both sides of the body at the same time or on alternating sides. It can also affect body parts that are not joints, including your eyes, mouth, heart, and lungs. Symptoms can last for only a short time or they can come and go. Your provider will use tests to help diagnose you and then refer you to a rheumatologist, who focuses on autoimmune illnesses—many of which target the musculoskeletal tissues.
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