Does Stress Trigger Rheumatoid Arthritis or Worsen Symptoms?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disease that occurs when the body's own immune system mistakenly attacks joint tissues for unknown reasons. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, "scientists estimate that about 2.1 million people, or between 0.5 and 1 percent of the U.S. adult population, have rheumatoid arthritis." Scientists still don't know exactly what causes the immune system to turn against itself in rheumatoid arthritis. Most experts believe the disease develops as a result of an interaction of many factors.

Patients often report that episodes of stress or trauma preceded the onset of their rheumatoid arthritis. While stress is nearly impossible to measure, some researchers have suggested that stressful life events, such as divorce, job loss, death of a loved one or accidents, are more common in people with rheumatoid arthritis during the six-month period before disease onset compared with the general population.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, it's both interesting and important to know if stress triggers the disease or if stress worsens rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Either way, it is to your benefit to eliminate as much stress from your life as possible. With daily stress that cannot be eliminated, it must be well-managed.

• An In-depth Report: Stress
• The Effect of Stress on Arthritis
• Stress Management at About.com

Is there concrete evidence that stress is a trigger of rheumatoid arthritis? Is stress a factor in disease activity for rheumatoid arthritis? Can stress lead to flare-ups in patients with rheumatoid arthritis? Read more in Does Stress Trigger Rheumatoid Arthritis?

More Related Resources:

• What Is an Arthritis Flare?
• Report: Stress and Anxiety
• Report: Stress Management
• Are You Feeling Overwhelmed?
• Fast Facts About Rheumatoid Arthritis

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• Join Us in Our Arthritis Forum / Message Board

_{Photo by Muriel Miralles de Sawicki (stock.xchng)}