Rheumatoid arthritis EXPLAINED

Handy ways you can manage achy joints

- Amy Hadley.

Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is a condition that affects about 458,000 Australians and is often mistaken for osteoarthritis. Though the main symptoms are similar – pain and inflammation of the joints – the impact on the body is actually quite different. Rheumatologist Professor Andrew Ostor explains the finer details.

WHAT IT IS

“Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that characteristically causes pain, stiffness, and swelling of the joints,” says Professor Ostor. “The immune system attacks the lining of the joints, causing inflammation and joint damage. It commonly affects smaller joints, such as the joints in the hands and feet, but also larger joints like the hips and knees.”

He adds that there’s a misconception that RA is an “older person’s” disease, however, the onset of the condition is often between the ages of 35 and 64. One thing for certain is that the condition is more prevalent in women than men. It usually begins with minor symptoms that progress over weeks and months.

FLARE-UPS