Causes of rheumatoid arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis) and risk factors

Rheumatism or rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation that can happen to anyone. This disease can cause various disturbing rheumatic symptoms and can lead to complications that endanger health. Therefore, knowing the causes and risk factors for rheumatism can help you prevent this disease in the future. So, what are the causes and risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis?

Causes of rheumatic disease (rheumatoid arthritis)

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or rheumatism is a common type of arthritis. This type of arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which is a condition when the immune system attacks healthy body tissues.

In other words, rheumatism or rheumatoid arthritis is caused by impaired immunity. This disorder causes the immune system in the body to attack healthy joint tissue, starting from the lining of the joints (synovium) to the tissues around other joints.

Normally, the immune system produces antibodies that function to attack bacteria and viruses to help fight infection. However, in people with rheumatism, the immune system overreacts and sends antibodies to the lining of the joints.

This condition causes the lining of the joints to become inflamed, painful, and swollen. Ultimately, this swollen synovium destroys the cartilage and bone in the joint.

The tendons and ligaments that hold the joints in place become weak and stretch. Gradually, the joint loses shape and alignment, which can eventually damage your joint as a whole.

In fact, in some cases, rheumatism can also cause inflammation and pain in other parts of the body, such as the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels.

However, the main cause of immune disorders in rheumatic disease is not certain. Cleveland Clinic says, rheumatism or rheumatoid arthritis can be caused by several factors, such as genetics (heredity), environment, and hormones.

The causes of rheumatism in children or young people are generally influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Certain gene mutations are believed to make a child more susceptible to environmental factors, such as viruses, that can trigger a disease.

Various risk factors can cause rheumatism

Although the main cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not known, researchers believe there are several factors that can increase the risk of this disease.

Having one or more risk factors does not necessarily mean that you will develop this disease. On the other hand, not having these risk factors is not certain that you are free from rheumatism.

For reference, here are some risk factors that may be the cause of rheumatoid arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis:

1. Increasing age

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that can occur at any age, whether it is adults, the elderly, adolescents or children. However, rheumatism is more common in adults between the ages of 20-50 years. Therefore, adults in middle age are more at risk of developing rheumatism than other age groups.

2. Female gender

Women are said to be up to two or three times more likely to develop rheumatism than men. Although it is not certain, researchers believe this could be due to the effect of the hormone estrogen, which is known as the female hormone.

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also said that women who have never given birth may be at greater risk of developing rheumatism. Meanwhile, women who already have RA generally experience remission or the disease subsides during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

The risk of developing rheumatism is also said to be increased in postmenopausal women. Women of this group are even said to have an increased risk of up to two times for developing rheumatism.

3. Family history or genetic factors

Family history or genetics are other factors that can cause rheumatism. In other words, if a member of your family has rheumatoid arthritis, you are more likely to develop the disease in the future.

Some experts say that this is because there are certain genes in a person that can increase the risk of rheumatism. The gene is HLA (human leukocyte antigen), especially the HLA-DRB1 gene. This gene plays a role in distinguishing between body proteins and proteins from organisms that infect the body.

In addition, there are other genes that play a role, although not so significant, such as STAT4, TRAF1 and C5, and PTPN22. The genes that can cause rheumatism may be passed down or passed down the family line. However, it does not mean that these genes will cause the same disease after being passed on.

Also, not everyone who has RA has these genes. Vice versa, not all people with this gene will definitely get RA in the future. Generally, RA is more likely to arise because of other triggers, such as obesity or environmental factors.

The genes related to rheumatoid arthritis above also generally play a role in other autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes. Therefore, someone who has type 1 diabetes is also at risk of developing rheumatism.

4. Excess weight or obesity

Being overweight or obese can increase a person's risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, research shows, the more overweight you are, the higher your risk of developing rheumatism.

This is because excess fat tissue releases cytokines, which are proteins that can cause inflammation throughout the body. This is the same protein that is produced by the joint tissue in people with RA.

5. Smoking habits

Several studies have shown that smoking can be a factor in causing rheumatic pain or rheumatoid arthritis in a person. In fact, rheumatoid sufferers who still smoke are more at risk of developing inflammation in other parts of the body than those who don't smoke.

The exact reasons for this are not fully understood. However, researchers suspect smoking can lead to impaired immune system function, especially in people who are genetically linked to rheumatism.

6. Exposure to cigarette smoke or chemicals

Environmental exposure is a risk factor that is said to be a cause of rheumatic disease, such as cigarette smoke or asbestos and silica dust. Young children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are said to have twice the risk of developing rheumatism as adults.

However, the reasons for the effect of such exposure on rheumatoid arthritis are not fully understood.