Rheumatism vs. Rheumatoid Arthritis - What You Need to Know

Rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis are medical terms often mixed up to describe pain and inflammation; however, they are two different conditions with specific characteristics, risk factors, symptoms, and management approaches.

Definition

Rheumatism is a more general term that was previously used more frequently by healthcare professionals to describe chronic conditions affecting the joints or connective tissues, causing pain and stiffness. Rheumatism does not refer to a particular condition and may include the following:

• Ankylosing spondylitis: is a chronic condition affecting the spine that may cause back stiffness.
• Crohn’s disease: inflammation of the colon or small intestines.
• Gout: a type of arthritis where uric acid crystals accumulate in the joints, leading to swelling, pain, and inflammation.
• Osteoporosis: loss of bone mass and density, resulting in fragile bones.

Arthritis is a general term that describes joint inflammation, and it includes a range of musculoskeletal disorders. There are two types of arthritis: Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is an inflammation of the joints that develops with age and the wearing out of the joints. The symptoms often appear gradually and worsen with time and after physical activity. Joint pain may improve with movement and stretching.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a specific autoimmune disease that attacks the synovium (the lining of joints that helps the joint move smoothly), resulting in pain, fatigue, swelling, and inflammation. Eventually, RA may lead to joint damage. Most affected areas are joints, but RA can also target other parts of the human body, such as the eyes, heart, lungs, and skin.

Risk Factors

Rheumatism may develop at any gender, age, or race; however, some people are more prone to rheumatic disease than others, depending on the following risk factors:

• Genetic factors: People carrying the PTPN22 gene are more susceptible to rheumatism.
• Gender: Rheumatism develops in females more than males.
• Race: Rheumatism is more frequent in African Americans and Hispanics
• Exposure to toxins and chemicals

The exact cause of rheumatoid Arthritis is not yet well known since it’s an autoimmune disorder; however, genetic and environmental factors can increase its risk, including:

• Family history
• Smoking
• Some types of infections
• Obesity
• Hormonal factors, therefore, RA is more common in females.

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