Here are some most important facts about rheumatoid arthritis:
- About one half of one percent of the population has rheumatoid arthritis, about 20 million people around the world and most of these people (about three-quarters) are women
- The condition usually appears in middle life, in the forties or fifties
- In rheumatoid arthritis, the synovial membrane lining (joint synovium) in the joint becomes inflamed
- Because of the bulk of these inflammatory cells, the joint becomes swollen (swollen join capsule), and feels puffy or boggy to the touch.
- The increased blood flow that is a feature of the inflammation makes the joint warm
- The cells release chemicals (called enzymes) into the joint space and the enzymes cause further irritation and pain .
- If the process continues for years, the enzymes may gradually digest the cartilage and bone of the joint, actually eating away parts of the bone.
This, than, is rheumatoid arthritis, a process in which inflammation of the joint membrane, over many years, can cause damage to the joint itself.