Rheumatoid arthritis

For a lay person:

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the lining of the joints. It causes painful, swollen joints, often in both hands and feet, and long morning stiffness.

For a trained medical person:

A chronic symmetric inflammatory polyarthritis with RF and anti-CCP antibodies. Early DMARD therapy (methotrexate) with treat-to-target strategy, biologics and JAK inhibitors prevents joint damage.

In Chinese medicine:

Flaws and Sionneau's textbook differentiates this condition into these patterns: Wind-Cold-Damp Bi; Heat Bi; Enduring bi transforms heat and damages yin; Qi and blood deficiency, phlegm and stasis mutually binding; Liver blood-kidney yin and yang deficiency with phlegm and stasis mutually binding. Treatment follows the pattern a patient presents with, not the Western diagnosis alone.

When to get help: See a doctor early for swollen joints; early treatment prevents lasting damage.