Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means it is caused by a malfunction in your body's immune system, causing what are usually protective functions to overreact. Unlike osteoarthritis, which generally affects individual joints that have been injured or overused, rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease, affecting joints in patterns and sometimes causing a negative effect on other systems in your body, such as your heart or lungs.
Effects on Joints
The main effect of rheumatoid arthritis is damage to joints. This occurs because the material that surrounds joints, called the synovium, becomes inflamed and swollen. These effects are found in more than one joint, and swelling that is symmetrical--that is, the same joint is swollen on both hands or legs--is a common characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, the joints most often affected are in the wrist and fingers, but it can also attack the neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, ankles and feet. The long-term effect of this inflammation and swelling is joint deformity, which usually means you also have increasing difficulty carrying out such daily tasks as opening doors, buttoning or zipping clothes, tying shoes, walking or driving.
Effects on Other Body Systems
While less common, the inflammation that is the standard feature of rheumatoid arthritis can affect the eyes, heart, lungs or blood vessels. The Mayo Clinic notes that the effects of rheumatoid arthritis can sometimes be found in the interior of the eye, the white of the eye and the covering of the eye, all of which could potentially cause glaucoma. The inflammation or the eye drops prescribed to deal with dry eyes associated with rheumatoid arthritis might also be a source of cataracts.
Inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis might also cause fluid buildup, nodules or scarring in or around the lungs. If that happens, it's painful to breathe, you might develop a chronic dry cough, or you might become short of breath with any kind of activity. The American Journal of Medicine has also reported on a Mayo Clinic study that indicates those with rheumatoid arthritis are also more likely to die from cardiovascular disease. This is because the inflammation of this disease that affects the coronary artery and leaves unstable plaques in your blood vessels.
Effects On General Overall Health
Rheumatoid arthritis often leaves victims feeling generally unwell. Fatigue and morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes are also common features of the disease. Another effect can be weight loss. According to the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, malnutrition is often associated with the disease either because of the direct affect of inflammation on the body's resource or because the medications people take for the disease cause ulcers or a poor appetite. The mortality rate for those with the disease is also higher than the overall population. Besides being more at risk of having cardiovascular or lung diseases, people with rheumatoid arthritis are also more likely to get infections and cancers.
