In addition to painful symptoms and physical limitations, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can have a wide-ranging impact on the lives it touches:

• Family Life – Because RA most commonly occurs between the ages of 30 and 50 years, the strain on families with children can be significant, imposing limitations on all aspects of family life.
• The Emotional Toll – The diagnosis of a chronic illness such as RA can cause occasional feelings of isolation or depression. These may become worse if people around you don’t understand that the symptoms of RA, such as fatigue or joint pain, can affect your ability to participate in normal life activities—even if you appear outwardly healthy.
• The Financial Toll – Managing rheumatoid arthritis can have substantial economic costs, including significant direct medical costs as well as loss of income caused by limitations at work, missing work, or becoming unable to work altogether.

Coming to terms with a chronic condition and the many ways it can affect your life and the lives of those around you is an important step toward managing your disease and living a full and active life with RA.

References