What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Medically Reviewed by
- Ravin Agah, M.D., Ph.D.
Question
What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis? How would I know if I have the disease, and how is it different from osteoarthritis?
Answer
Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune disease which affects people in their 30s and 40s. Bilateral joints (both sides) are affected. People with RA tends to have the most pain in the morning, which then gets better later in the day. This is in contrast to osteoarthritis which affects usually single joints, happens later in life, and joint pain gets worse later in the day because of usage of the joint. Osteoarthritis is caused by "wear and tear" over time.
There is a blood test for RA , so please contact your physician if you suspect you may have it.