Com156 Research Paper

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis is only 1 of 155 forms of arthritis that affects people worldwide. Scientist show that more than 40 million people worldwide have some form of arthritis and more than 2 million adults in the U.S. alone have rheumatoid arthritis. Among the most affected are middle-aged women, but there are thousands of cases involving the affects in men and children, and the number of cases are steadily climbing. “By 2020, an estimated 60 million people will have arthritis” (Mayo Clinic, 1999, p.1). Arthritis is one of the most common medical problems in the world, with saying that, it is the number one cause of disability in America. “Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disorder where extra-articular manifestations are common; among them, central and peripheral nervous system involvement is frequent and associated with significant morbidity and, in some cases, reduced life span”( Ramos-Remus C, Duran-Barragan S, Castillo-Ortiz JD, 2012).

The word “arthritis” is a blend of the Greek words “arthrons” for joint, and “itis,” for inflammation. So “arthritis” literally means “joint inflammation”. Unlike other forms of arthritis, rheumatoid is not associated with the wear and tear of joints or injury, it is an autoimmune disease. It’s a disease in which your body’s immune system- which protects your health by attacking foreign substances, bacteria and virus- mistakenly attacks your joints, which in return, attacks itself. Scientist and doctors believe rheumatoid arthritis is genetically and environmentally responsible for the factors of RA. Can I live a healthy lifestyle and live pain free with RA? Yes you can! Rheumatoid Arthritis has become a more common disease; patients have more resources and support than recent years, thanks to the advances in medical treatment.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is not easy to detect or diagnose, but thanks to advances in research and development there are many ways to test a person for the...