62 | November 2011 | woman this month Campaign It is easy to dismiss early morning stiffness as merely a sign of fatigue or ageing, but this could be the beginning of a chronic and debilitating disease. Arogressive disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a common form of arthritis that can affect virtually every area of your life, including the type of work you can take on. RA can also interfere with the joys and responsibilities of family life and may even affect the decision to have children. In recent years, however, research has led to a new understanding of this condition. With advancement in treatment strategies and patient education and support programmes, most people with this disease can now lead active and productive lives. It is important to first understand what this condition is all about, before you learn to cope with it physically, mentally and emotionally. What it is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling and loss of motion in the joints. This is an autoimmune disease in which, for unknown reasons, a person's immune system attacks his or her own body tissues. In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks the synovium, the tissue that lines the joints. This causes an inflammation that can eventually lead to the destruction of the Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis
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