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Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

Controlling Your Arthritis

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Factors that may increase your risk of rheumatoid arthritis include:

  • Your sex. Women are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than men are.
  • Age. Rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age, but it most commonly begins between the ages of 40 and 60.
  • Family history. If a member of your family has rheumatoid arthritis, you may have an increased risk of the disease.
  • Smoking. Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of rheumatoid arthritis in some people. Quitting can reduce your risk.
Complications Causes

  • See Also

    • Hand Scheduled
    Section Focus
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  • Arthritis
References
  1. Handout on health: Rheumatoid arthritis. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Rheumatic_Disease/default.asp. Accessed Sept. 16, 2011.
  2. O'Dell JR. Rheumatoid arthritis. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191371208-2/0/1492/0.html#. Accessed Sept. 16, 2011.
  3. Mercier LR. Rheumatoid arthritis. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..C2009-0-38600-6--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&about=true&uniqId=230100505-53. Accessed Sept. 16, 2011.
  4. Schur PH, et al. General principles of management of rheumatoid arthritis. http://uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 16, 2011.
  5. Stone JH. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors: An overview of adverse effects. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 16, 2011.
  6. Kavanaugh A, et al. The locomotor system: Rheumatoid arthritis. In: Bope ET, et al. Conn's Current Therapy. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-0986-5..C2009-0-38984-9--TOP&isbn=978-1-4377-0986-5&about=true&uniqId=236797353-5. Accessed Sept. 19, 2011.
  7. Schur PH, et al. Nonpharmacologic and preventive therapies of rheumatoid arthritis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 19, 2011.
  8. Hints, tips, gadgets and resources. In: Lorig K, et al. The Arthritis Helpbook. 6th ed. Cambridge, Mass.: Da Capo Press; 2006. Accessed Sept. 19, 2011.
  9. Weisman MH. Total joint replacement for severe rheumatoid arthritis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 19, 2011.
  10. Get the facts: Rheumatoid arthritis and CAM. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/RA/getthefacts.htm. Accessed Sept. 19, 2011.
DS00020 Nov. 2, 2011

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