类风湿关节炎（RA）是一种影响关节的自身免疫性疾病。在自身免疫性疾病,免疫系统会攻击健康组织中the body for unknown reasons.
With RA, the immune system attacks the lining of the joints, which causes the joints to become inflamed, swollen, and painful. However, RA is systemic, meaning it can affect other areas of the body in addition to joints.
根据Arthritis Foundation，大约有150万美国人患有RA，而男性的三倍受到这种疾病的影响。
Listen to your body’s clues for symptoms of RA.
RA is often thought to be a condition related to old age, but this is not the case.
根据Arthritis Foundation，RA的平均发作是在30至60岁之间，儿童也可以得到它。
Women tend to be diagnosed slightly earlier than men, potentially due to hormonal
RA是一种慢性疾病，可以随着时间的流逝而随着疾病活性增加，称为耀斑和缓解时期而进展。
Symptoms of RA vary from person to person depending on the severity of their condition.
不仅女性比男性获得更多的女性，而且她们还倾向于在年轻时会出现症状
在没有发生症状的疾病早期阶段的缓解也往往是
The reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone seem to potentially have a protective effect against symptoms of RA.
在女性的一生中，体内各种激素的水平都会发生变化。可能影响这些级别的因素包括：
- pregnancy
- 产后
- 哺乳
- 绝经
- conditions likeendometriosis和polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- 激素药物
- 避孕药，包括口服的
- hormones taken post-menopause
激素used in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment could also be a trigger.
Medical expertstend to agree性激素与环境和遗传因素相结合的作用可以解释被诊断出RA的妇女的较高患病率。
研究继续寻求更多答案。
如前所述，RA不仅是老年人的疾病。
根据
| 年龄范围 | 曾经诊断出的百分比 |
|---|---|
| 18至44岁 | 7.1% |
| 45至64岁 | 29.3％ |
| 65岁以上 | 49.6% |
During the same years, 26 percent of women and 19.1 percent of men have ever reported a diagnosis of arthritis, of which RA is a subset.
Prevalence of the disease increases with age, nearing5％在55岁以上的女性中。
General, non-joint early symptoms of RA include:
- fatigue
- 低级发烧
- 食欲不振
- 无意减肥
这些迹象可以先于通常与RA相关的疼痛关节症状。
Recurrent bouts of fatigue along with a general sense of not feeling well may occur weeks or months before other symptoms.
随着疾病的发展，这些症状可能伴随着爆发过程中与联合相关的症状。
刚性
Morning joint stiffness is a strong indication of RA.
关节刚度通常持续1到2个小时，有时甚至更长。它也可以在长时间的休息或不活动（例如小睡或看电视）之后发生。
刚度和运动范围减小最终可以完成简单的日常任务，例如扣衬衫或打开罐子困难。
关节肿胀和疼痛
When the disease is active, affected joints become red, swollen, painful, and feel warm to the touch.
在the early stages of RA, smaller joints in the hands, wrists, and feet tend to be affected first. Over time, larger joints in the knees, shoulders, hips, and elbows may become affected.
What differentiates RA from other types of arthritis is that RA symptoms attack symmetrically. This means that if your left wrist is inflamed, your right wrist likely will be inflamed as well.
Rheumatoid nodules
根据Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, 20 to 30 percent of people with RA develop rheumatoid nodules, firm lumps of tissue that grow under the skin at bony pressure points.
类风湿结节通常是在肘部上发现的，但是可以在身体的其他区域（例如手指，脊柱上或脚后跟上）发现它们。它们通常无痛，可以独自出现或在集群中出现。
Deformity
长期内由RA引起的慢性炎症可能会损害骨骼，软骨，肌腱和韧带。
在高级阶段，RA会导致广泛的骨侵蚀和关节畸形。严重的ra的明显迹象是扭曲的手指，脚趾弯曲为不自然的角度。
Severely disfigured hands can impair fine motor skills and make performing daily tasks challenging. Deformity can also affect wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles.
Symptoms throughout the body
在severe cases of RA, persistent inflammation may affect other areas of the body, such as the eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels.
Long-term inflammation may cause:
- severe dry eyes and mouth (Sjögren综合征)
- 肺部内膜的类风湿炎症（pleurisy)
- 心脏掩盖的炎症（心包炎)
- 减少健康红细胞的数量（贫血)
- 一种非常罕见但严重的血管炎症，可以限制组织的血液供应，导致组织死亡（血管炎)
女性中的RA并不是一种罕见的疾病，尽管理解继续发展，但荷尔蒙，遗传和环境因素的患病率似乎与荷尔蒙，遗传和环境因素有关。
Other sex-related factors such as
If you’re experiencing any symptoms of RA, especially if you’re a woman, talk with your doctor.
They may refer you to a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in diseases that affect the joints, connective tissues, and a range of autoimmune diseases.