05/22/2026
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis? Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common inflammatory joint disease. In the German-speaking space, it is also known as chronic polyarthritis. “Chronic” means that the disease lasts for a long time. “Poly” comes from Greek and means “many,” which in this case means that the disease affects a wide range of joints. Due to the international importance, the designation "rheumatoid arthritis" has now come into force. In Germany, one percent of adults suffers from this rheumatic disease. Women are three times more likely affected than men. The disease can occur at any age, but it usually starts after 50. Year of life. When the disease occurs in children, they talk about juvenile idiopathic arthritis. How does rheumatoid arthritis occur? The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is still unknown. In the tendency to develop rheumatic diseases, innate (genetic) factors play a significant role. Viruses and certain bacteria are suspected to be the cause of rheumatic diseases. Other environmental influences also play an important role. In addition, studies show that smoking increases the risk of illness. Smokers are more likely to get serious illnesses. The treatment is less effective for them. The role of other risk factors (eg. B. professional exposure) is unclear. You know much more about the inflammatory processes in the joints. Immune system plays a crucial role. The real purpose of this system is to protect the body from diseases. In rheumatoid arthritis, cells of the immune system attack the body's own tissue. This can lead to inflammation of the joints. Doctors call this attack on one's own body an autoimmune reaction. Although the exact cause of the disease is not yet known, many patients today experience a significant improvement in their disease course. What are the warning signs? Rheumatoid arthritis often starts with pain in the joints of the fingers and toes. Swollen joints that hardly move in the morning after getting up (morning stiffness). In rare cases, inflammation of individual large joints, such as the knees, can also occur. Often it doesn't remain with inflammation of individual joints. More content is often added during the first few weeks and months. Also tendons and mucous cysts can catch fire. For example, some patients develop rheumatic nodes on the forearms or fingers. After years of illness and inadequate treatment, the upper cervical spine can be damaged. Other symptoms may include: fatigue. Poor performance. Sleep disorders. Fever. Night sweats. Weight loss. This clearly indicates that the disease affects the entire body. In the course of the disease, rheumatoid arthritis can also infect other organs such as lungs, heart, blood vessels, nerves or eyes. A hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis is that it damages the joint cartilage and bones and, at worst, can destroy the joint. The course of the disease is very different for each patient individually. However, the condition usually deteriorates when left untreated.
