Blood Tests
... Patients with arthritis will probably have blood tests as part of their initial evaluation and follow-up care. This is because blood is the most easily and safely sampled body tissue and contains trac...

Signs and symptoms
... The signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may come and go over time. They include: Pain and swelling in your joints, especially in the smaller joints of your hands and feet Generalized aching or ...

Causes
... As with other forms of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis involves inflammation of the joints. A membrane called the synovium lines each of your movable joints. When you have rheumatoid arthritis, white ...

Risk factors
... The exact causes of rheumatoid arthritis are unclear, but these factors may increase your risk: Getting older, because incidence of rheumatoid arthritis increases with age. However, incidence begins t...

When to seek medical advice
... See your doctor if you have persistent discomfort and swelling in multiple joints on both sides of your body. Your doctor can work with you to develop a pain management and treatment plan. Also seek m...

Screening and diagnosis
... If you have signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor will likely conduct a physical examination and order laboratory tests to determine if you have this form of arthritis. These tests m...