Health News

RA May Be More Active in Poor People
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease, meaning it can last for years to a lifetime. Throughout the course of the disease, symptoms can get better or worse. Many factors can affect disease activity, including wealth.
Cigarettes May Worsen Arthritis
Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are two vices that can take a toll on your health in a variety of ways. More specifically, these habits may worsen certain types of arthritis.
Second Line of Defense Against RA
People with rheumatoid arthritis are often treated with anti-TNF drugs. When these drugs fail, patients may need to switch to a different drug. But which drug should be the second line of defense?
RA Drugs May Boost Infection Risk
Rheumatoid arthritis patients are commonly treated with anti-TNF medications. As with many arthritis drugs, there are concerns that anti-TNF drugs may lead to some serious side effects.
Losing the Brain in RA
As people grow old, they may start to have problems with memory, language, thinking and judgment. Some diseases may play a role in this loss of brain function known as cognitive impairment.
Blood Testing in RA-Diabetes Combo
Heart disease is a common complication of diabetes. To stay healthy, diabetes patients need to keep a close eye on levels of blood sugar and fat.
Arthritis Drug has Dizzying Side Effects
Despite decades of use, methotrexate (sold as Rheumatrex and Trexall) remains a first-choice drug for treating conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. But some side effects lead patients to stop taking the drug.
High Flu Risk in RA Patients
Every year, thousands of Americans come down with the flu. If you have a condition like rheumatoid arthritis, you may be more likely to get the flu.
Different Views on RA Disease Activity
Joint pain and joint swelling are two of the main ways to measure disease activity in people with rheumatoid arthritis. Doctors and patients may disagree on which measure is more important.
Simple Blood Test Tracks RA Activity
To decide how best to treat rheumatoid arthritis, doctors need to track the course of disease in their patients. In the past, disease activity has been tracked through observation.