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Get treated as soon as you’re diagnosed

	If you’ve been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, you may feel anxious about being in pain. But there are lots of ways that you can control your pain. ConsumerReportsHealth.org can help you find treatments for rheumatoid arthritis that work well.
	Subscribe to ConsumerReportsHealth.org today to find out which course of treatment rates best for rheumatoid arthritis.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, you’re not alone. Consumer Reports Health is here to help with the best research about rheumatoid arthritis, and expert evidence and advice about how to treat it.

Key points for people with rheumatoid arthritis

• In rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system, which normally fights infection, attacks the lining of your joints. This makes your joints swollen, stiff, and painful.
• The small joints of your hands or feet usually are affected first.
• Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects similar joints on both sides of your body.
• It is most common after the age of 40.
• Doctors can have a hard time diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis because it often starts slowly.
• It's important to start treatments early to keep your joints from wearing down.

About 1 in every 100 people in the United States have rheumatoid arthritis. That means that about 2.1 million Americans have the disease. We don't know why some people get rheumatoid arthritis, but we do know that it can run in families and that it’s almost three times more common in women than men.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an unpredictable disease, and it's hard to say how it will affect you. For some people, the symptoms come and go. In others, they slowly get worse. Treatments that reduce the swelling, pain, and damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis help many people lead active lives. We encourage you to read our entire condition report and to consult with your doctor to learn more about rheumatoid arthritis. As a Consumer Reports Health subscriber, you’ll have access to our expert research and recommendations, and you’ll be more confident and knowledgeable about which treatments are best for you.