Early detection and treatment is crucial to avoid the disabling effects of rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory disorder that can strike at any age. Although there is considerable variation in the course of the disease, more than two-thirds of patients have progressive inflammation that eventually causes considerable damage to joints and makes simple, daily tasks difficult.
Watch for early signs: puffiness in the joints of the hands and feet and an overall stiff feeling in the morning.
To learn more about rheumatoid arthritis, please visit Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Health Information Library online.
[SOURCE: P. Emery, I.B. McInnes, R. van Vollenhoven and M.C. Kraan, "Clinical identification and treatment of a rapidly progressing disease state in patients with rheumatoid arthritis," Rheumatology, 2008;47(4):392-398]