What is the Full form of RA?

RA stands for “Rheumatoid Arthritis”

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that can cause joint pain and damage throughout your body. The joint damage that RA causes usually happens on both sides of the body.

So, if a joint is affected in one of your arms or legs, the same joint in the other arm or leg will probably be affected, too. This is one way that doctors distinguish RA from other forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis (OA).

Treatments work best when RA is diagnosed early, so it’s important to learn the signs. Read on to learn everything you want to know about RA, from types and symptoms to home remedies, diets, and other treatments.

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

While RA symptoms can affect several organs in the body, the joint symptoms of RA include:

• joint pain
• joint swelling
• joint stiffness
• loss of joint function and deformities
• inflammation and pain in the joints

Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis

The exact cause of RA isn’t known. However, certain factors seem to play a role in increasing the risk of developing RA or triggering its onset.

Factors that may increase your risk for RA include:

• being a woman
• having a family history of RA

Factors that may trigger onset of RA involve:

• exposure to certain types of bacteria, such as those associated with periodontal disease
• having a history of viral infections, such as the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes mononucleosis
• trauma or injury, such as bone breakage or fracture, dislocation of a joint, and ligament damage
• smoking cigarettes
• having obesity