I've been watching a series called 'The Good Doctor' and it turns out that one of the characters in that series is diagnosed with this disease that caused me a lot of curiosity, so I deign to look up about it to find out more about it.

It turns out that Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that commonly attacks the joints (although it may not just the joints in some cases). In some individuals, the condition can damage different body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels. Rheumatoid arthritis is defined as an autoimmune disorder that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks body tissues, especially the joint system.

Rheumatoid arthritis attacks the lining of the joints and causes painful inflammation that can eventually cause bone erosion and joint deformity.

Inflammation related to rheumatoid arthritis is what can also harm other parts of the body. Currently, medicines have greatly improved treatment options, but it is still serious because it can cause physical disabilities. 

In the beginning, rheumatoid arthritis usually affects the smallest joints first, especially those that join the fingers to the hands and the toes to the feet.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include the following:

• Tender, hot and swollen joints
• Joint stiffness that usually increases in the morning and after inactivity
• Tiredness, fever and poor appetite

These are the main symptoms that come to light, although there are also others that are not directly related and that do not involve the joints. The areas that are affected are the following parts of the body:

• Fur

• Eyes

• Lungs

• Heart

• Kidneys

• Salivary glands

• Nerve tissue

• Bone marrow

• Blood vessels

Causes

Doctors do not know why this disease occurs, although they consider it likely to be a genetic component. While genes don't cause rheumatoid arthritis, they can cause you to have a high percentage of reacting to environmental factors, such as infection with certain viruses and bacteria, that can trigger the disease.

Risk factors

• Women tend to be more likely than men to develop rheumatoid arthritis.

• Rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age, but is more common in middle age.

• Family history. If a family member has rheumatoid arthritis, the risk of developing the disease may be much higher.

Treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis as such has no cure. But studies indicate that remission of symptoms is more likely when treatment starts early if diagnosed early so that it can be attacked with known medications.

Medicines

The type of medication your doctor recommends depends on the severity and state in which the disease is advanced. among them are:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

• Steroids

• Biological agent

Therapy and Surgery

Your doctor may also refer you to an occupational therapist or physical therapist to treat arthritis so he or she can teach you exercises to keep your joints flexible. Or the option of surgery as medications do not prevent or delay joint damage, so surgery to repair damaged joints may be considered. Surgery can help restore the ability of joints that are operated on. This also helps reduce pain and improve mobility.