Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis
You have probably heard about rheumatoid arthritis, but do you really know what it is and what causes it? You might be surprised to learn that rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating autoimmune disease: a disease in which your own immune system mistakenly attacks tissues in the body that affects one to two million people, attacking their joints, which often renders them functionally disabled, affecting every aspect of their lives, often causing excruciating pain. See http://www.arthritis.ca/types%20of%20arthritis/ra/default.asp?s=1 for more details. But what causes rheumatoid arthritis, and can it be prevented?
Unfortunately, the causes of rheumatoid arthritis are still the source of worldwide debate and research. Until the direct cause of rheumatoid arthritis is found, a cure can never be found. Scientists all over the world have ideas about its cause, but so far none have been proven. The most common suggestions include certain viruses or bacterial strains, but others believe it is simply a genetic disease triggered by infections or factors in the patient’s environment, as explained by Medicinenet: http://www.medicinenet.com/rheumatoid_arthritis/page2.htm.
According to About.com, http://arthritis.about.com/od/rheumatoidarthritis/ it is stated that certain hormonal factors may also be the culprit behind the disease. This is an especially tempting theory, seeing as the disease occurs more commonly in women than in men. Also, pregnancy tends to make the symptoms of the arthritis lessen, only to have them flare up again after the pregnancy is over, especially in breastfeeding women.
Probably the most certain clue is the link between genetics and the disease. In twins, it has been found that 30% of the time twins will share the disease. Scientists have also found a link between certain genes and the development of the disease, although those without the gene are still susceptible to it, and those with the gene do not necessarily develop the disease.
It may be one, none, or a combination of all these factors that lead to rheumatoid arthritis. Right now there are more questions than answers. But, even with all the questions that remain unanswered, there is good news. Scientists will never give up until the answer is found. They continue to study the disease and discover new evidence on a daily basis. There is also hope with the new developments in the controversial, but potentially effective, stem cell research.
To learn more about rheumatoid arthritis, try watching this healthology.com video: http://www.healthology.com/hybrid/. To take an arthritis screening quiz and evaluate your symptoms, or the symptoms of someone you know, visit this link: http://arthritis.about.com/od/diseasesandconditions/.