Rheumatoid Arthritis Myths and Facts

If you smoke, you’re more likely to get RA, particularly if your body makes a certain protein. If you also have a high-salt diet, your odds go up again. Smokers who regularly use more than a dash or pinch of salt at meals double their risk of RA.

Women who drink two to four beers a week may lower their chances of getting the condition. Although this kind of booze is best -- cutting RA risk by about 30% -- an occasional glass of wine or liquor also lessens the likelihood. If you have the disease and drink in moderation, you, too, might have a reason to toast, because your symptoms may be less severe. Before you declare happy hour, though, remember that alcohol can damage your liver, especially if you’re taking drugs for RA.

Soft drinks may be hard on the molecules that fight inflammation and fend off rheumatoid arthritis. In a recent study, women who drank more than one sugar-loaded soda per day were 63% more likely to get RA than those who drank one or none a month. Drinking skim milk instead of pop appears to lower your chances, possibly due to the helpful effects of vitamin D.

Doctors recommend a balance between rest and exercise. Being active not only keeps your joints mobile and your muscle tone healthy -- it also helps you sleep better and fights fatigue. If the activity you're doing hurts, ask your doctor how to change it up so it's easier on your joints.

The precise cause of RA is unknown, but many things are involved. Researchers have identified dozens of genes linked to the disease. They also think certain things in the environment, like viral or bacterial infections, may trigger it, although the condition isn’t contagious. Changes in sex hormones -- especially in women -- also play a role, which may explain why three times as many women as men get RA.

If you’re pregnant and have rheumatoid arthritis, you may get a break from symptoms for a while. A little more than half of the women who have RA say they feel better from the end of the first trimester through delivery. You may have a flare shortly after giving birth, though. Tell your doctor as soon as you know you’re expecting -- some medications can hurt your baby.

Tackle RA head-on, sooner rather than later. Doctors suggest you start out with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs for short), which were once saved for later-stage treatment. These strong medicines can relieve symptoms and slow or even stop joint damage.

Pregnant women with rheumatoid arthritis need to be careful about medications, though. Some RA drugs may increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, or birth defects.

Most new mothers with RA experience a recurrence of symptoms in the weeks after pregnancy.

Want to add natural treatments? Fish oil, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, is the only one shown to relieve joint pain and stiffness. The best catches of the day if you have RA? Try herring, mackerel, salmon, or tuna.

Parasitic worms make a compound that can calm your immune system. Researchers are working to turn this into a treatment for RA.

People with RA are more likely to have specific types of bacteria in their gums and guts, where trillions of tiny organisms you can only see with a microscope live. Among other things, having too many of these bacteria can cause inflamed gums (gingivitis) or colon (colitis). Doctors think those conditions stir your immune system and may trigger the start of RA.