But lifestyle factors also influence your chances of developing RA, including smoking and obesity.
you could prevent RA by changing any risk factors that are modifiable.
Early treatment slows or stops progressive joint damage.
© Verywell, 2018
Non-Modifiable Risk Factors
Rheumatoid arthritisaffects some groups of people more than others.
These groups define the non-modifiable risk factors of age, gender, andgenetics.
Aging weakens the immune system, making you more vulnerable to autoimmune disease.
Research shows that women often develop RA after major shifts in their hormones, especiallyestrogen.
For example, menopause (the loss of estrogen) is associated with a higher risk.
At the same time, hormone replacement therapy (to restore estrogen) also increases your risk of RA.
Taking acombination oral contraceptive(birth control pills) may have a protective effect.
you could’t modify your genes, but their activity can be influenced by your lifestyle.
Managing the problem lowers its impact on your overall health and reduces its influence on RA.
Smoking
Smoking has a cause-and-effect relationship with rheumatoid arthritis.
Obesity
Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by chronicinflammationthat gradually degrades and destroys bone and joint tissue.
Anything that adds to this inflammation will only make things worse.
Moreover, increased body weight adds stress to the affected joints, particularly the feet and knees.
BMI is a dated, flawed measure.
It does not take into account factors such asbody composition, ethnicity, sex, race, and age.
Mental Health Conditions
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)anddepressionare associated with a higher risk of RA.
Bacteria found in periodontitis are also associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
The process may also work in reverse, with lung disease contributing to RA.
If your gut microbes become imbalanced, intestinal inflammation develops.
That inflammation then spreads to trigger autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis has two types of risk factors: modifiable and non-modifiable.
Non-modifiable risks (those you cant change) include age, gender, and genetics.
While you cant alter your genes, lifestyle factors can affect their activity.
Some lifestyle factors are preventable; you’re free to improve or treat others.
you could lower your chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis by changing lifestyle habits.
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