is rheumatoid arthritis a dread disease
Arthritis means joint inflammation. The joint inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis causes swelling, pain, stiffness, and redness in the joints. The inflammation of rheumatoid disease can also occur in tissues around the joints, such as the tendons, ligaments, and muscles. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease characterized by periods of disease flares and remissions. 2  In rheumatoid arthritis, multiple joints are usually, but not always, affected in a symmetrical pattern. 3  Chronic inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis can cause permanent joint destruction and deformity.