Rheumatoid Arthritis: 7 Unexpected Symptoms Of This Painful Chronic Disorder

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a type of arthritis that is characterized by joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, explains the US National Library of Medicine.

According to the Mayo Clinic, "Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect more than just your joints."

They also explain that RA is an autoimmune disorder in which your immune system mistakenly attacks a body's tissues.

RA, which is most common among people middle-aged or older, has some well-known symptoms.

These include joint pain and discomfort, swollen joints, and joint stiffness.

"Early rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect your smaller joints first — particularly the joints that attach your fingers to your hands and your toes to your feet," explains the Mayo Clinic.

As the disease progresses, it tends to affect larger joints around the body.

One of the less common symptoms of RA is unexplained weight loss.

Dr. Joshua F. Baker told Everyday Health, "When people lose weight without trying, it can be a result of poorly controlled RA."

Unintentional weight loss can be a symptom of a number of health problems. Find out more in this LittleThings article.

RA can also cause breathing problems, HealthLine explains.

Lung problems are relatively common among people with RA. Sometimes, they cause no symptoms — though other times they may cause chest pain, cough, or shortness of breath.

The three most common lung problems associated with RA are scarring within the lungs, pleural disease, and lung nodules, the Mayo Clinic explains.

As with many chronic diseases and illnesses, fatigue is a somewhat common symptom.

A study published in Rheumatology in 2008 explains: "Fatigue is, just like pain, a subjective symptom which may occur in patients with many different diseases and thereby also in patients with RA."

Fatigue is complex, and it can present itself physically, emotionally, and psychologically.

Many people with RA also experience vision or eye problems.

"The most common eye-related symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is dryness. Dry eyes are prone to infection, and if untreated, severe dry eyes can cause damage to the cornea, the clear, dome-shaped surface of the eye that helps your eye focus," explains the Mayo Clinic.

It's uncommon, but RA can also cause eye inflammation, which can lead to pain and redness.

When your joints become swollen due to RA, they can also cause numbness and tingling.

Inflammation of the joints may also give RA-sufferers a pins-and-needles or burning feeling.

According to Everyday Health, around 15% of people who have RA will develop a condition called Sjögren's syndrome.

The Mayo Clinic explains that the two main symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome, which is an immune system disorder, are dry eyes and dry mouth.

People who have RA may experience low-grade fevers when they're having a flare-up.

The US Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health explains that people with RA might have fevers from time to time.

If you experience the symptoms above or think you may be suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, make an appointment with a doctor to talk about diagnosis and treatment options.

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