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There's a lot to learn about rheumatoid arthritis, and this can make you feel a bit overwhelmed. Perhaps you already know it causes joints to be stiff and painful, but you should also know that RA is progressive, which means that over time, it can cause irreversible damage to the joints. The damage starts when your immune system begins to attack your joints. As time passes, joint cartilage breaks down, narrowing the joint space until there's nothing left but bone rubbing against bone. In addition, the bones can also erode.

RA may also affect other parts of your body—not just your joints. As you begin to understand the potential full impact of RA, it's important to learn as much as possible about strategies for living with RA.

People with RA may feel tired or weak. They may also have coexisting health issues such as lung disease, anemia, heart problems, spine and nervous system disorders, and skin conditions. That's why it's important to be under the care of a rheumatologist who can identify and monitor symptoms.

Early treatment and a disease management program directed by a rheumatologist can help slow the progression of joint damage. This kind of attention to your health care is essential for treating your RA from the inside out.

RA can impact your ability to work and how you live your life. Some people with RA report being overwhelmed, stressed, and having feelings of depression. Your daily routine and overall well-being may potentially suffer, but there are things you can do right now to make the disease more manageable.

• Educate yourself. Knowing more about RA is helpful whether you are newly diagnosed or already being treated. Work with your rheumatologist to learn more about RA and ways to manage lifestyle, home, and work issues.
  
  
• Adopt a healthy lifestyle. Stretching and strengthening your muscles can increase your ability to function. Talk with a health care professional about walking, resistance training, or riding a bike to help reduce RA joint pain and stiffness and make you stronger and more flexible. Adequate rest, such as an afternoon nap, is important to reduce the fatigue that people with RA experience.
  
  
• Use coping strategies. Feelings of distress and pain due to your RA may negatively affect your social activities. Coping strategies such as relaxation techniques or writing in your journal about the stresses related to your disease can lead to a more positive perspective.
  
  

All the information contained in this website is intended for educational purposes only. Readers are encouraged to consult other sources and talk with their health care provider to obtain further information.