Women and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease, an inflammatory arthritis that often presents with joint pain and stiffness in small joints.

According to Mercy Medical Center’s Dr. Francesca Okoye, board certified in rheumatology and internal medicine, women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with RA.

Dr. Okoye noted that she usually sees RA in women in their 30s and in post-menopausal ages. Women can get RA while pregnant, but pregnancy does help it go into remission.

There is a role that hormones play in how we develop autoimmune diseases, Dr. Okoye explained.

"It's more than joint pain and stiffness. It's how long are you stiff in the morning, if you wake up and it's taking you more than an hour to get loosened up, that's kind of a sign. Swelling is a big one. So, if you start seeing swelling in your knuckles, often in both hands because it's symmetric in presentation, either stiffness or swelling in your feet, that's something that should prompt you to see your doctor," Dr. Okoye said.

There are medicines to help manage RA symptoms, but the goal is to cure it. Lifestyle changes can help.

View Mercy rheumatologist Dr. Francesca Okoye’s interview regarding women and RA.