Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system – which normally protects its health by attacking foreign substances like bacteria and viruses – mistakenly attacks the Joints. In the early stages, people with RA may not initially see redness or swelling in the Joints, but they may experience tenderness and pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis most commonly affects the Joints of the hands, feet, wrists, elbows, knees and ankles. The Joint effect is usually symmetrical. That means if one knee or hand if affected, usually the other one is, too. Because RA also can affect body systems, such as the cardiovascular or respiratory systems, it is called a systemic disease. Systemic means “entire body.”