Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease of ups and downs. One day your joints may feel fine, and the next they might be painful, swollen, and even leave you stuck in bed and unable to go to work or run errands.
For many people, RA flares can come about if treatments are tapered or stopped. But there are other everyday, avoidable, “predictable” things that can trigger them as well, even if you’re following your medication regimen consistently.
Dr. Blazer is a rheumatologist and instructor in the department of medicine at NYU Langone Health.
References
American College of Rheumatology. (2016). Smoking is associated with unfavorable flare/ remission pattern in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Global Healthy Living Foundation. (2018). Arthritis flare-ups: What causes them and exactly what to do when you have one.
Hassett, A.L., et al. (2010). The role of stress in rheumatic diseases. Arthritis research & therapy.
Schäfer, C. (2022). Lifestyle factors and their influence on rheumatoid arthritis: A narrative review. Journal of Clinical Medicine.
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