Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that can result in stiff joints that are deformed with loss of movement. This condition can affect anyone, any age, at any joint. What is the exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis? The question still remains unanswered. There are several identified causes; it may, therefore, be a combined action of various factors.

Rheumatoid arthritis is often called as an autoimmune disease. It is a disease where the anti-bodies, or the white blood cells, attack the tissue or the specialized cells that make the human body. The anti-bodies in the blood normally fight the entry of any body that is foreign. But the disease causes them to attack and damage the body's own tissues by "mistake". In fact, it is the rheumatoid factor in blood that directs the anti-bodies. When the rheumatoid content increases, it causes a malfunction in the immune system. But strangely, research has proven that not all cases of inflammation of the joint or rheumatoid arthritis arises from increased rheumatoid factor in blood. It has also been said that rheumatoid arthritis can be caused by some infection of the immune system (for example, virus) though there are no tested proofs.

Interestingly, rheumatoid arthritis seems to affect women more than men. Research is still ongoing to identify a correlation of female hormones and the cause of rheumatoid arthritis. It has also been found that even though the rheumatoid factors get reduced in the blood of a pregnant woman, she may still have rheumatoid arthritis after the birth of the baby.

Rheumatoid arthritis may be a genetic disorder, meaning that there is the presence of a defective gene in the genetic make up of a person. Some studies have also pointed out environmental factors such as extreme cold weather as leading to rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

Although there may be numerous causes for rheumatoid arthritis, the symptoms are the same. That is, the person may have inflammation, stiffness, and tenderness of joints that reduce free movement. In a later stage, rheumatoid arthritis affects other organs too. The only way to reduce the chances of having rheumatoid arthritis is by proper exercise and a diet supplemented with vitamins and minerals to sustain healthy bones and a healthy body.