Quiz: Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease and an inflammatory form of arthritis. In RA, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues. It primarily affects the joints, however it can also affect organs and tissues including the skin, eyes and lungs.1 Take this quiz to test your knowledge of RA.

First, you can refresh your understanding of RA here.

1. True or False: RA is the most common type of arthritis.1

False
True
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and affects more than 30 million people in the U.S., compared to an estimated 1.5 million people who are living with RA.

2. True or False: No one knows the true cause of RA.1

False
True
Though the exact cause of RA is unknown, scientific studies have indicated that genetics, hormones and environmental factors may influence disease development. Researchers are actively investigating the various factors which may make a person more likely to develop RA.

3. True or False: RA is more common in women.1

True
False
Women are diagnosed with RA three times more often than men. Given the high prevalence of RA in women, researchers are investigating the role that female hormones may play in activating the disease.

4. True or False: RA is a disease related to old age.1

False
True
RA can actually develop at any age, however it most commonly develops between the ages of 30 and 60, often impacting women of childbearing age. There are also several types of inflammatory arthritis that occur in children, including polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (PJIA) and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) – learn more in our infographic, Understanding PJIA & SJIA.

5. True or False: Smoking increases the risk of developing RA.3

False
True
Smoking is an environmental factor that has been linked to an increased risk for developing RA. For people with RA, smoking may also make the disease worse.

6. True or False: Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are just different names for the same disease.1

False
True
RA and osteoarthritis are actually quite different diseases. Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition caused by natural wear and tear on the joints. RA is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body, causing inflammation in joints, organs and tissues.

7. True or False: There is no cure for RA.1

False
True
Like all autoimmune diseases, RA is a chronic disease for which there is no cure. People living with RA experience periods of active disease, called flares, and breaks in disease activity, called remission.

8. True or False: RA only affects the joints.2

True
False
While RA does primarily impact the joints, RA is a systemic disease that can affect tissues and organs throughout the body, including the eyes, lungs and heart. Fatigue is also a common and burdensome symptom of RA.

9. True or False: Joint stiffness in the morning is a common symptom of RA.1

False
True
Joint stiffness is a common symptom of RA, and for many people it tends to be worst in the morning. Joint stiffness at the start of the day is also a common symptom for osteoarthritis.

10. True or False: RA only causes swelling and stiffness in the joints, it does not cause joint damage.4

False
True
It is estimated that 80-85 percent of people with RA will experience joint damage, with most damage occurring during the first two years of the disease.