Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a stressful condition that requires you to draw on your resilience to ably cope with circumstances of the disease.

RA is an auto-immune disorder that occurs when part of your own bodys immune system attacks tissues and joints. Synovium is a soft tissue in your joints that produces a fluid to nourish the cartilage and lubricates your joints. Consequently, attacks from your immune system affect the production.

RA Causes: The real cause of RA is unclear. However, if you have a family history of rheumatoid arthritis youre more likely to develop it. Medical research also suggests that viral or bacterial infection can cause RA. This condition can happen at any age

Furthermore, those affected tend to be between the ages of 30 to 60 years. Although, the risk of developing RA is highest for people in their sixties. RA occurs in all ethnic groups but is of significantly higher incidence in some ethnicities

Gender as well seems like a significant risk factor since there are more women than men affected or have a propensity to develop RA. Hormones, in particular estrogens, are thought to play a role.

Useful RA Facts: Things you should know about RA

• Pain is common when it comes to RA symptoms include painful swelling of hands, fingers, wrists. This may be accompanied by tenderness and joint stiffness. Experiencing early morning severe stiffness, redness and prolonged joint pain is not uncommon
• There is a link between stress and rheumatoid arthritis  especially  the flare-ups
• You may have only one brief episode of RA or repeated flare-ups once you have been afflicted with the condition. Early treatment can help keep RA under control and limit disability.
• Even though joints show the most noticeable signs of RA, this disease can also trigger inflammation in other parts of your body such as your liver, kidney, lungs as well as eyes and heart
• If you already have the inflammatory joint condition this may increase your risk for RA or affect the advancement of the disease. It's important to have a consult with a rheumatologist right away if symptoms are present.
• Getting a diagnosis of RA can stir up a range of emotions including fear. The disease can put you on an emotional roller coaster.

 Managing RA: What you can do to ably, get the better of RA pain.

1. Learn all you can about coping with RA youll need to understand the disease
2. Your goal should be on protecting your joints, relieving pain, preventing deformities and limiting disability.
3. Focus on what you could change in your lifestyle, not what you cant or what you've lost.
4. Tame your stress by putting a stress plan in place to keep stress and inflammation at a minimum
5. Relaxation techniques like meditation can help relieve stress and fatigue
6. Dont only focus on the condition your total physical health matters so keep on doing moderate low-impact exercise if you can this will help to loosen up achy joints.
7. If you are overweight, losing weight can relieve some of the pressure on your painful joints.
8. Eating smart and selecting anti-inflammatory foods is great health habit.
9. A guided program of exercise, rest, medications, physical therapy, assistive devices and attentive self-care all go a long way towards easing symptoms and preventing irreversible damage
10. Typically RA requires the use of anti-inflammatory medications. Always take your medications as prescribed. As well you can look into holistic and natural treatments.

Everyday living with RA can be difficult. The flare-ups of joint stiffness or constant aches and pain can be hard on you and rather distressing but you can outmanoeuvre episodes of severe pain.