An immune attack on the joints & Symptoms that come and go
Lesson 1 · 5 min
Based on MedlinePlus en español — Rheumatoid Arthritis. Original educational summary, read by a medical doctor and confirmed reliable, pending formal approval. Not medical advice.
Learning objectives
- Explain an immune attack on the joints.
- Explain symptoms that come and go.
An immune attack on the joints
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease. The immune system, which normally defends the body against infection, mistakenly attacks the synovium, the membrane that lines the joints. This causes inflammation that thickens the membrane and can eventually destroy cartilage and bone within the joint. The disease usually affects the same joints on both sides of the body, especially the small joints of the hands and feet. It can begin at any age and is more frequent in women.
Symptoms that come and go
Affected joints become painful, swollen, warm, and stiff. Morning stiffness that lasts more than an hour is a characteristic feature. Many people also feel tired, weak, and occasionally feverish. Symptoms often alternate between periods of worsening, called flares, and periods of relative calm called remission. Over time, uncontrolled inflammation can deform the joints and limit movement. Because the disease is systemic, it can also affect the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels.
Key concepts
- An immune attack on the joints
- Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease.
- Symptoms that come and go
- Affected joints become painful, swollen, warm, and stiff.
- How it is diagnosed
- No single test confirms rheumatoid arthritis.
- Treatment and daily life
- Treatment aims to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and prevent joint damage.