• The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown.
• Even though infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi have long been suspected, none has been proven as the cause.
• Some scientists believe that the tendency to develop rheumatoid arthritis may be genetically inherited.
• It is suspected that certain infections or factors in the environment might trigger the immune system to attack the body’s own tissues, resulting in inflammation in various organs of the body such as the lungs or eyes.

• The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis come and go, depending on the degree of tissue inflammation.
• When body tissues are inflamed, the disease is active. When tissue inflammation subsides, the disease is inactive (in remission). Remissions can occur spontaneously or with treatment, and can last weeks, months, or years.
• During remissions, symptoms of the disease disappear, and patients generally feel well.
• When the disease becomes active again (relapse), symptoms return. The return of disease activity and symptoms is called a flare.
• The course of rheumatoid arthritis varies from patient to patient, and periods of flares and remissions are typical.
• When the disease is active, symptoms can include fatigue, lack of appetite, low grade fever, muscle and joint aches, and stiffness.
• Muscle and joint stiffness are usually most notable in the morning and after periods of inactivity.
• Arthritis is common during disease flares. Also during flares, joints frequently become red, swollen, painful, and tender. This occurs because the lining tissue of the joint (synovium) becomes inflamed, resulting in the production of excessive joint fluid (synovial fluid). The synovium also thickens with inflammation (synovitis).
• In rheumatoid arthritis, multiple joints are usually inflamed in a symmetrical pattern (both sides of the body affected).
• The small joints of both the hands and wrists are often involved. Simple tasks of daily living, such as turning door knobs and opening jars can become difficult during flares.
• The small joints of the feet are also commonly involved.
• Occasionally, only one joint is inflamed. When only one joint is involved, the arthritis can mimic the joint inflammation caused by other forms of arthritis, such as gout or joint infection.
• Chronic inflammation can cause damage to body tissues, cartilage and bone. This leads to a loss of cartilage and erosion and weakness of the bones as well as the muscles, resulting in joint deformity, destruction, and loss of function.
• Rarely, rheumatoid arthritis can even affect the joint that is responsible for the tightening our vocal cords to change the tone of our voice, the cricoarytenoid joint. When this joint is inflamed, it can cause hoarseness of voice.

Combination Therapy Is Only Answer for Rheumatoid Arthritis.