Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily affects the joints, causing warm, swollen, and painful joints, but can also involve other parts of the body such as the skin, eyes, lungs, and heart, with symptoms typically worsening after periods of rest. It is more common in women and often starts in middle age, although it can occur at any age, with its exact cause involving a combination of genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors.