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Rheumatoid Arthritis
A Healthy Joint2
A Joint Affected by RA 2
Inflammation
Cartilage damage
Bone loss
Bone loss
Anemia
Rheumatoid nodules
(knots of tissue under
the skin)
Sjgrens syndrome
(dry mouth and dry eyes)
and other eye problems
Infections
Lung disease
Some of these conditions may be a result of having RA. Medications used to treat RA could
increase some of these risks as well.
Feeling weak
Swollen joints
Weight loss
Over time, decreased
range of motion
Dry eyes and mouth
RA Glossary
Anemia. Condition in which the number of red blood cells is lower than normal; may be present
in rheumatoid arthritis and cause you to feel tired.
Arthritis. Inflammation of the joints and the tissues around them.
Autoimmune disease. A disease where the immune system attacks the bodys own tissues.
Flare or flare-up. A period when RA symptoms appear or worsen.
Inflammation. Reaction of the immune system to injury or disease. Symptoms include swelling,
redness, heat, pain, and loss of function.
Immune system. A network of special cells and organs that work together to defend the body
against outside threats, such as bacteria and viruses.
Rheumatoid arthritis. A form of arthritis in which the immune system attacks the tissues of
the joints, leading to pain, inflammation, and eventually joint damage.
Remission. A period when symptoms fade or disappear. In RA, this does not mean the disease
itself has gone away.
Rheumatoid nodule. Knot of tissue under the skin. Nodules are often harmless unless they
become infected or cause pain because they appear near a swollen joint.
Rheumatologists. Doctors who are experts in treating rheumatic diseases and could
potentially treat patients with conditions such as arthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and
many others.
Systemic. Affecting the whole body rather than one organ or local area.
For example, rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease.
Stress reduction
Joint care
Healthy diet
Seeing a Rheumatologist
What Is a Rheumatologist?
After talking with your family doctor, he or she may refer you to a rheumatologist.
Rheumatologists are doctors who can help diagnose and treat patients with diseases of
the joints, muscles, and bones. A rheumatologist knows the signs and symptoms of certain
autoimmune diseases, and is the most qualified to treat patients with RA.5
Together, you and your rheumatologist can find a plan to manage your RA.
Seeing a Rheumatologist
How Can I Find a Rheumatologist?
You can ask your regular doctor to refer you to a rheumatologist. Or you can go to www.RA.com
to find a rheumatologist near you.
Plan your visit with your rheumatologist. Ask questions. Take an active role in
managing your RA.
Osteoarthritis 6,8,9
Psoriatic Arthritis10
Ankylosing Spondylitis11-13
Type of
Disease
Autoimmune a rthritis
Symptoms
Location of
Symptoms
Time of Day
Age of Onset
Prevalence
An estimated 27 million
people have osteoarthritis in
the US
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Resources
American College of Rheumatology (ACR)
www.rheumatology.org
Arthritis Foundation
www.arthritis.org
RA.com
www.RA.com
Make an appointment with your doctor today. Together, you and your doctor can find
a plan to manage your RA.
Refe r e nc es: 1. Weinblat t M, Kurit zk y L. R APID: rheumatoid ar thritis. J Fam Pract. 20 07 Apr;56(4 Suppl):S1-S7; quiz S8. 2 . National Institute
of A r thritis and Musculoskeletal and Sk in Dise ase s (NIAMS). Handout on health: rheumatoid ar thritis. 20 09. ht tp://w w w.niams.nih.gov/He alth
_ Info/Rheumatic _ Disease/default.asp. Accessed July 18, 2012. 3. Lipsk y PE. Rheumatoid ar thritis. In: Fauci AS, Kasper DL, Longo DL, et al,
eds. Harrisons Principles of Inte rnal Me dicine. 17th ed. New York, NY; McGraw-Hill; 20 08:2083-2092. 4. A merican College of Rheumatology
S u b c o m m i t te e o n R h e u m ato i d A r th r i ti s G u i d e l i n e s. G u i d e l i n e s fo r th e m a n a g e m e nt of r h e u m ato i d a r th r i ti s: 20 02 u p d ate. A r t h r i t i s R h e u m.
2002 Feb;46(2):328-346. 5. American College of Rheumatology. What is a rheumatologist? Atlanta, GA: American College of Rheumatology, 2010.
http://w w w.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/rheumatologist. Accessed May 7, 2012. 6. National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and
Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center. Osteoporosis and ar thritis: t wo common but dif ferent conditions. ht tp://w w w.niams.nih.gov
/He alth _ Info/Bone/Oste oporosis/Conditions _ Be haviors/oste oporosis _ ar thritis.asp. Acce ssed July 18, 2012. 7. A r thritis Foundation. W ho gets
rheumatoid ar thritis? ht tp://w w w.ar thritis.org /who-gets-rheumatoid-ar thritis.php. Accessed August 29, 2012. 8. A r thritis Foundation. What is
osteoar thritis? http://w w w.ar thritis.org/what-is-osteoar thritis.php. Accessed July 18, 2012. 9. Ar thritis Foundation. Who gets osteoar thritis - and
why? http://w w w.ar thritis.org/who-gets-osteoar thritis.php. Accessed August 10, 2012. 10. Ar thritis Today. All about psoriatic ar thritis. http://w w w
.a r th r i ti s to d ay.o rg /c o n d i ti o n s /p s o r i ati c -a r th r i ti s /p s o r i ati c -a r th r i ti s-sy m pto m s.p h p. Ac c e s s e d S e pte m b e r 21, 2012. 11. A r th r i ti s Fo u n d ati o n.
A n k y l o s i n g s p o n d y l i ti sw h at i s i t? ht tp://w w w.a r th r i ti s.o rg /d i s e a s e - c e nte r.p h p?d i s e a s e _ i d =2. Ac c e s s e d S e pte m b e r 21, 2012. 12 . A r th r i ti s
Fo u n d ati o n. A n k y l o s i n g s p o n d y l i ti sw h at a re th e ef fe c ts? ht tp://w w w.a r th r i ti s.o rg /d i s e a s e - c e nte r.p h p?d i s e a s e _ i d =2&d f= ef fe c ts. Ac c e s s e d
S e pte m b e r 21, 2012. 13 . A r th r i ti s Fo u n d ati o n. A n k y l o s i n g s p o n d y l i ti sw h o i s at r i s k ? ht tp://w w w.a r th r i ti s.o rg /d i s e a s e - c e nte r.p h p?d i s e a s e
_id=2&df=whos_at_risk. Accessed September 24, 2012.
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