Is Rheumatoid Arthritis Genetic?

For information about is rheumatoid arthritis genetic? and the latest news and information about arthritis generally please carry on reading.

While people now and again refer to ‘true’ arthritis there is in reality no such thing and when we use this term we are talking about a number of conditions in which arthritis is the principle disease present. The best known conditions in this group are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the most commonly diagnosed form of arthritis and results in a break down of the cartilage in the joints uncovering the ends of adjoining bones so that they rub together with painful consequences. This pain, together with an accompanying stiffness, a loss of movement and often swelling can have a marked impact on the quality of your life. Osteoarthritis is generally found in the ankles, spine, hips and knees although it can also often be found in the hands. While there might be some basis of heredity in osteoarthritis, it is usually the result of some type of injury or a metabolic disorder. Today, rising obesity is also playing an increasing role in the diagnosis of osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is the second commonest type of arthritis and is evidenced when the immune system begins to attack the body. Rheumatoid arthritis begins with inflammation in the lining of the joints and then spreads into the cartilage and the bone. It is common for rheumatoid arthritis to be found in the same joint on both sides of the body (for instance, both wrists) in which case it is referred to as being ‘symmetrical’.

Let’s take a second to consider a few of the many different forms of arthritis before looking more closely at is rheumatoid arthritis genetic?.

There are several ailments that are considered to be ‘true’ arthritis including:

Psoriatic Arthropathy. This type of arthritis appears in individuals who are also afflicted by psoriasis. Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes scaly, red, rough patches on the elbows, neck and knees. This type of arthritis frequently appears in the joints of the feet and hands and causes the toes and fingers to swell so that they resemble small sausages.

Gout. Sometimes called the ‘disease of kings’ gout is caused by an accumulation of uric acid. This leads to the formation of sharp crystals in the joints which produce both inflammation and a lot of pain. Gout normally appears in the wrists, knees and the ‘bunion’ joint on the big toe. Although heredity can be a factor in gout, your diet and several medicines can also bring on the condition.

Arthritis can also accompany other conditions where it is not the central problem but is an extremely important player in your condition. Such conditions include:

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Lupus, as it is commonly referred to, is found mainly in women during their child bearing years although it can also be found in men and children. This is a disease of the auto-immune system that results amongst other things in stiffness and pain in the joints.

Amongst numerous ailments where arthritis has a small role are:

Bursitis and Tendonitis. Both an injury and overusing a joint can lead to bursitis, which is a swelling of the sac that cushions the tendon, or tendonitis, which is an irritation of the tendon itself.

Lastly, let’s acquaint ourselves with several of the ideas that can help in living with arthritis before moving forward to look in more detail at is rheumatoid arthritis genetic?.

Take steps to conserve your energy by planning ahead.

Get a good night’s sleep by maintaining a dark and quiet bedroom.

Adapt your home to make things simpler by using kitchen utensils like potato peelers which have easy-grip rubber handles.

Make house cleaning a lot simpler by spraying foam pipe insulation onto the handles of items that you find it hard to grip such as knives, potato peelers, mops, screwdrivers and anything which has a tendency to slip in your hands.

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