When the immune system goes awry and attacks the joints, it results in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This disorder can cause significant pain and joint deformity by wearing away joint linings. It is a chronic, debilitating condition that has no cure, and it affects about 1.5 million people in the United States, according to the Arthritis Foundation. “If the disease goes untreated,
it can cause permanent damage to the joints. It can also cause other problems, such as inflammation in the lungs or the eyes,” said Dr. Linda Mileti, a rheumatologist at the Cleveland Clinic.
The disorder can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease as well, she added.Joint damage can happen in the first two years in which a person has the disorder,
according to the Arthritis Foundation. RA usually affects joints on both sides of the body equally, starting in the small joints of the wrists, hands, ankles and feet.
