ARTHRITIS (rheumatoid arthritis is one of the more common types) is one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. "Disability" can range from minor physical limitations that reduce a person's ability to complete everyday activities like housework to major limitations that may prevent a person from holding a job. According to the World Health Organization, more than 50% of patients with RA completely stop working within 10 years of onset. Statistics like these demonstrate that RA, like heart disease and diabetes, can result in a substantial amount of disability.

DIFFERENT EFFECTS ON DIFFERENT PEOPLE
Despite being a serious illness, not every patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) will have the same experience. More than 50% of patients have a gradual onset of the disease. For these people, the first symptoms develop over several weeks. Other patients have faster disease onset, with symptoms developing over several days. Some patients even have periods of "remission," when their symptoms disappear. Many patients with RA also develop related conditions affecting the skin, eyes, lungs, and heart.