The Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis Explored

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body's healthy tissue, resulting in joint inflammation. During the early phases, RA sufferers often report pain in their hands, wrists and knees. If not appropriately managed, it can lead to tissue damage in larger joints like the hips and knees.

The way RA impacts the body is well understood by specialists, but the exact cause is less clear. However, the presence of certain risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing RA.

The cause of RA, like many other autoimmune diseases, still puzzles researchers. As the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases states, there's limited understanding of why autoimmune diseases develop.

Still, researchers have identified that a mix of genetic and environmental risk factors can prompt the immune system to attack healthy cells. These risk factors could explain why some individuals have a higher risk of developing RA.

Certain genes, like the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes that regulate the immune system, may predispose individuals to RA. However, possessing these genes does not guarantee RA development. In most situations, the risk of RA is higher when these genes are combined with environmental risk factors such as obesity, stress, or smoking.

Some specialists also theorise that RA might be hereditary. If your relatives have this condition, your own risk of developing RA could be slightly higher than someone without a family history of RA.

Rheumatoid arthritis is two to three times more common in individuals assigned female at birth compared to those assigned male. The hormone estrogen is suspected to play a part in RA's development, though research in this area is ongoing.

Rheumatology research indicates that experiences such as at least one pregnancy, recent postpartum, long-term breastfeeding, and early menopause can all heighten the risk of developing RA. The study proposes that fluctuating hormone levels throughout a woman's life and estrogen's inflammatory effects might impact immune responses.

Unlike other arthritis types, RA can appear at any age. However, the probability of developing RA increases as a person gets older. A study discovered that over half of the people diagnosed with RA were 65 years old or older.

A smoking history can majorly contribute to the development of RA. As reported by the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, the stress and inflammation caused by smoking can make individuals more susceptible to RA and can impact treatment results.

The research also reviewed the connection between smoking and assigned sex at birth. Their findings revealed that men who smoke were twice as likely to develop RA than non-smokers, while women who smoke were 1.3 times more likely.

Besides smokers, secondhand smoke, which comes from another person's cigarettes, could also increase RA risks. A study discovered that grown women who were exposed to smoke in their childhood had a higher likelihood of developing RA than grown women who were not.

Experts are still examining the direct impact of obesity on RA risks. However, a correlation exists: the growth of the obesity epidemic corresponds with an increase in RA cases.

The occurrence of RA cases has been rising since the 1990s. A 2014 study in Arthritis Care & Research suggested that obesity could be responsible for over half of the recent rise in RA cases among individuals assigned female at birth.

The association between obesity and RA might be linked to cytokines, inflammatory proteins in tissue. Research indicates that high levels of body fat could increase cytokine levels and thus joint inflammation risks.

The body's reaction to infections, injuries, and life stressors like losing a job or getting a divorce may kickstart an overactive immune response, thereby elevating the risk of RA.

Physical or emotional stress may trigger a chemical reaction in the body, causing a faster heartbeat, muscle tension, and an inflammation increase in the immune system. Prolonged exposure to stress could lead to more inflammation in the immune system and joints.

RA is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes pain and inflammation in your joints. The cause of RA is still unknown, but researchers suspect that a variety of risk factors can increase your risk of developing the condition. These risk factors can include genetics, obesity, and long-term tobacco use. 

Living with RA can be painful. If you think you are experiencing RA symptoms or may be at risk for developing RA, reach out to your healthcare provider about the next steps. Through a physical exam and a variety of blood or imaging tests, they can determine the cause of your symptoms and give you an official diagnosis.