Rheumatoid arthritis vs osteoarthritis
Most people are familiar with the term "arthritis." Simply speaking, it means inflammation of the joints — which can cause pain. When people talk about arthritis, they are often referring to a condition known as osteoarthritis (OA). This is because OA is much more common. It generally begins after age 40 and develops over many years, as the joints break down with age. The pain that people feel is due to this joint damage. This occurs more often in joints that carry a lot of weight. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can cause pain in any joint throughout the body, no matter how much weight it carries.
Next — Diseases confused with RA
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Glossary Of Terms
inflammation
Occurs when the immune system defends the body against harmful events. More…
osteoarthritis
A condition that can be confused with RA. More…
rheumatoid arthritis
A long-term condition where the body’s immune system attacks not only foreign substances like bacteria and viruses, but also attacks the body itself. More…