Rheumatoid Arthritis

1. Introduction/Thesis Statement. Rheumatoid arthritis, RA, is a chronic autoimmune disease in which both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the disease process. It is characterized by flare-up and remission periods affecting over 1. 5 million people in the United States, in which approximately 300,000 of those people are children. Rheumatoid arthritis is by far the most serious, painful, and potentially crippling form of arthritis. It is often called “the great crippler” because it can lead to deformities and debilitation.

People living with RA live in fear that they might one day become disabled, but we have learned through research that early detection is the best preventive measure against disability. While RA has no cure and is somewhat of a mystery disease, researchers are making great advances in modern medicine to help with the symptoms and the progression of RA. These biologic medicines have made life much more manageable for RA patients improving their quality of life and overall health. 2. Disease definition and patient prevalence A. Definition of RA B. Age, sex, prevalence related to RA . Diagnosis and prognosis of RA A. What causes RA? B. How it is diagnosed C. Other risk factors associated with RA. 4. Patient experiences A. Symptoms and signs of RA B. Treatment available (medications, etc. ) 1. New treatment hope with biologics. C. Prognosis of patients with RA. 5. Living and coping with RA. A. Coping with the disease. References: www. webmd. com/rheumatoid-arthritis/default. htm http://www. mayoclinic. com/health/rheumatoid-arthritis/DS00020 www. arthritis. org/conditions-treatments/disease-center/rheum  www. cdc. gov/arthritis/basics/rheumatoid. htm