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Rheumatoid Arthritis : A Common Disease

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There are many different types of arthritis and they affect many people. Rheumatoid Arthritis, also known as RA, is a common disease found in my family. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that causes inflammation of the joints. According to, Maripat Corr in the article “Introduction” Rheumatoid Arthritis can lead to deformities and structural damage that can lead to people suffering socially and economically. According to Mayo Clinic Staff in the article “Diseases and Conditions” Rheumatoid Arthritis is an “autoimmune disorder” and occurs when your immune system attacks the tissues of your body. Rheumatoid Arthritis can affect more than your joints. It can also affect the skin, eyes, lungs and blood vessels. Rheumatoid Arthritis is a …show more content…

It is believed that the development of Rheumatoid Arthritis could be hereditary and linked to a certain gene. One gene that it is possibly linked to RA is HLA-DR alleles. This gene is linked to European ancestry. Patients that have Rheumatoid Arthritis sixty to seventy percent carry the HLA-DR allele gene (Arnett and Assassi 3). There have been very few studies to prove this link in the gene to Rheumatoid Arthritis. The results of studies attempting to understand the link between DNA and RA are still not completely understood. According to USDA authors there are genetic markers that “play a role in the immune system” and “are associated with a tendency to develop rheumatoid arthritis” (“Handout on Health: Rheumatoid Arthritis”). However, the presence of the genes that have been identified indicates a “moderate risk” of developing this disease. This information means that there are other factors in addition to genetic make-up that cause the development of this disease. It is very important to catch the signs and symptoms in early stages of Rheumatoid Arthritis to prevent having major damage to the joints. The signs and symptoms can differ dramatically from person to person according to, JR Gurenlian in the article “Dhdx & Oral Medicine: Rheumatoid Arthritis”. The typical signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis can be swollen joints, warm joints, tender joints, stiff joints, decreased mobility of the joints and fatigue (Mayo Clinic Staff).

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