Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which your body mistakenly attacks its own tissues, weakening the lining of joints in the extremities. While the disease can technically affect multiple areas of the body, including the skin, lungs and eyes, the primary mode of deterioration is through the smaller joints in the hands and feet.
The disease typically begins presenting around age 40, but the onset of symptoms can occur at any age. Women are much more susceptible to rheumatoid arthritis as well, which can lead to the erosion of bone material in the joints and eventual deformity.
Below are a few of the early warning signs that might indicate the progression of rheumatoid arthritis.
Nearly 98% of all those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis experience moderate to severe fatigue. This symptom is brought on by inflammation and pain associated with the deterioration of protective joint tissue.
While fatigue is a common experience, even among those who are perfectly healthy, chronic or severe fatigue can be an indication of the onset of rheumatoid arthritis, or RA.