Uncovering The Basics Of Rheumatoid Arthritis And Those Affected By It

Though not all of the factors that lead to the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are known or understood by medical professionals, there are a number of trends that have been identified that could increase a person's chances of suffering from RA. When discerning what types of people are affected by Rheumatoid arthritis, one must consider several factors.


Genetics

The number one agent that can determine if a person could potentially contract RA is genetic.  RA is an autoimmune disease, which means that the proteins in our cells that coordinate the attack of the immune system on disease-causing agents--viruses, bacteria, among others--can get confused.  This leads to the body generating an immune response when none is needed, and the white-blood cells then enter the fluid-filled tissues around joints, making them swell and become painful. 

The major protein system that coordinates these interactions between cells of the immune system is called "major histocompatibility complex" (MHC) and the specific protein often linked with RA is HLA-DR4.  Unfortunately, the major factor that determines whether a person is susceptible to contracting RA is completely out of their control!  Instead, it boils down to whether a person is a carrier of a certain set of base pairs in that mass of DNA swimming around in the nuclei of their cells!

Smoking Habits

The greatest factor outside of what a person carries in their genes is whether or not they are a smoker.  Smoking has been attributed to a long list of maladies, and we can throw RA on that pile, as well.  If a person smokes, they are up to three times more likely to contract rheumatoid arthritis, and the chances are elevated if they are a heavy smoker.  Interestingly, smoking seems to be more of a problem for men than for women when it comes to RA, and the chances go up more if they are genetically predisposed toward developing RA.

Age and Gender

Age and gender are another two determining factors when it comes to the development of RA.  Very rarely are cases of RA reported in anyone under fifteen; most commonly, people between the age of 40 and 50 are at the greatest risk of developing RA.  Curiously, the chances for development of the disease after age 80 drop off dramatically.  Women, unfortunately, are about three times as likely to develop RA as men, a trend which is reversed in smokers.
 

Native American Heritage

People with a strong Native American heritage may show a slightly elevated risk of contracting the disease, as well.  Prior to the 17th century, RA was incredibly rare in Europe, and many have suggested that the Age of Discovery may have aided the disease in migrating to the old world.  Skeletal remains of Native Americans have been posthumously diagnosed with RA.  There is an increased risk for people of Asian descent, as well, though the risk is not as elevated as it is for Native Americans.

There are several factors that can determine whether or not you could develop Rheumatoid arthritis later on down the line. Learning your medical history and maintain a healthy lifestyle can help educate you on ways to prevent it from happening.

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