Rheumatoid arthritis is a very common form of arthritis. This form of arthritis is known as a chronic progressive disease. It simply means that the disease generally worsens as time goes on.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to produce cells that attack its own tissues. This results in inflammation and damage to the joints and surrounding muscle. Rheumatoid arthritis can result in very severe pain. People afflicted with this form of arthritis may find themselves incapable of normal function. These include performing daily tasks such as preparing food, dressing, brushing their teeth, walking, combing their hair, dressing, etc.
Some people may experience the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis more dramatically than others. For some, the disease may regress or flare up throughout their life. Most people will experience periods where the symptoms of the disease are practically non-existent. Of course, these periods will be tempered by times where the disease flares up dramatically, many times exacerbated by certain environmental conditions.
