Information Our information section is where you’ll find all our information on RA, including what symptoms to expect, how it is diagnosed and treated and tools to you to cope with your RA. 01. Coronavirus and RA Many people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their families will be concerned about how the Coronavirus (COVID-19) affects them. Here is a summary of all the important information that you need to know about Coronavirus and RA. Read more 02. What is RA? Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease, meaning that the symptoms such as pain and inflammation are caused by the immune system attacking the joints. Read more 03. RA symptoms RA is a systemic condition, meaning that it can affect the body all over. RA occurs when the immune system attacks the lining of the joints, and this can cause pain, swelling and stiffness. However, it can also affect organs, soft tissue and cause widespread symptoms such as fatigue and flu-like symptoms. RA symptoms 04. RA diagnosis and possible causes RA is diagnosed through a combination of blood tests, scans and examination of the joints. Around 50% of the cause of RA is genetic factors. The rest is made up of what’s referred to as ‘environmental’ factors, such as whether you smoke or are overweight. Read more 05. RA medication RA is a very variable condition so, doctors do not start all patients in exactly the same way on the same drug regimen. The treatments given and the order they are tried on will depend on factors such as symptoms, the length of time you may have had the disease prior to diagnosis and test results. Read more 06. RA healthcare In this section, you will find articles on the people involved in treating RA, the ‘standards of care’ best practice models for clinical practice and information on the monitoring and management of RA from your healthcare team. Read more 07. Living with RA Whether you are newly diagnosed or have had RA for some time, there can still be a lot to understand about living with this disease. Hearing other people’s stories can help and you may also need specific information on topics such as work, benefits and pregnancy/parenthood. Read more 08. Managing your RA There is good evidence to show that self-management works to improve outcomes for people with conditions such as RA. Self-management takes on many forms, including changes to exercise, diet, smoker status and through the use of healthcare apps, including a number that NRAS has been involved in developing. Read more Search for resources Try searching our resource hub to find the articles, videos, tools and publications most helpful for you. I am… Employer Health Professional Someone with RASelect topic… About NRAS COVID-19 Diagnosis and Monitoring Diet and Exercise Family Planning Healthcare professionals Other Conditions RA Stories Research Self Care Symptoms and Causes Treatment Work and BenefitsSelect resource type… Article Publication Video Clear All Article BMJ Journals – Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (ARD), is one of the world’s leading rheumatology research journals and an official journal of EULAR (European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology). The short summaries that ARD provide are for selected key research papers, written specifically for patients and non-clinicians. You can access the specific research summaries for rheumatoid arthritis summaries below and […] Article BMJ-ARD Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (ARD), is one of the world’s leading rheumatology research journals and an official journal of EULAR (European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology). The short summaries that ARD provide are for selected key research papers, written specifically for patients and non-clinicians. You can access the specific research summaries for rheumatoid arthritis summaries below and […] Article The OPINION study Research Study: Barriers and facilitators of flu, pneumonia and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in adults with inflammatory conditions treated with immune-suppressing drugs Would you like to help with a research study to better understand why some people with inflammatory conditions affecting the joints or the gut, and treated with immune-suppressing medications get vaccinated, while others do not? Vaccines […] Article Top 10 tips for traveling with RA Top 10 tips for traveling with RA Blog by Nadine Garland I think I am the perfect person to ask about traveling with RA, because it is something I love to do and basically what brings me to the UK from Australia. I was diagnosed with RA way back in 1987 at 19 years of age, and was given a bleak prognosis of the life […] Article Survey of people with rheumatic conditions about third primary vaccination doses A group of other charities and patient groups, including NRAS, is supporting a rapid survey aimed at all adults with a rheumatic condition in the UK, to understand the progress of the roll-out of third primary COVID-19 vaccination doses for people who are severely immunosuppressed. We have heard from patients reporting difficulties accessing third primary doses. We hope the survey will […] Load more ↓ Help support others Because of your generous donations NRAS will continue to be there for everyone affected by RA. MonthlySinglePay in Funds £3£8£15Other £18.74£41.44£165.75Other £50£100£500Other Donate now!
01. Coronavirus and RA Many people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their families will be concerned about how the Coronavirus (COVID-19) affects them. Here is a summary of all the important information that you need to know about Coronavirus and RA. Read more
02. What is RA? Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease, meaning that the symptoms such as pain and inflammation are caused by the immune system attacking the joints. Read more
03. RA symptoms RA is a systemic condition, meaning that it can affect the body all over. RA occurs when the immune system attacks the lining of the joints, and this can cause pain, swelling and stiffness. However, it can also affect organs, soft tissue and cause widespread symptoms such as fatigue and flu-like symptoms. RA symptoms
04. RA diagnosis and possible causes RA is diagnosed through a combination of blood tests, scans and examination of the joints. Around 50% of the cause of RA is genetic factors. The rest is made up of what’s referred to as ‘environmental’ factors, such as whether you smoke or are overweight. Read more
05. RA medication RA is a very variable condition so, doctors do not start all patients in exactly the same way on the same drug regimen. The treatments given and the order they are tried on will depend on factors such as symptoms, the length of time you may have had the disease prior to diagnosis and test results. Read more
06. RA healthcare In this section, you will find articles on the people involved in treating RA, the ‘standards of care’ best practice models for clinical practice and information on the monitoring and management of RA from your healthcare team. Read more
07. Living with RA Whether you are newly diagnosed or have had RA for some time, there can still be a lot to understand about living with this disease. Hearing other people’s stories can help and you may also need specific information on topics such as work, benefits and pregnancy/parenthood. Read more
08. Managing your RA There is good evidence to show that self-management works to improve outcomes for people with conditions such as RA. Self-management takes on many forms, including changes to exercise, diet, smoker status and through the use of healthcare apps, including a number that NRAS has been involved in developing. Read more
Search for resources Try searching our resource hub to find the articles, videos, tools and publications most helpful for you. I am… Employer Health Professional Someone with RASelect topic… About NRAS COVID-19 Diagnosis and Monitoring Diet and Exercise Family Planning Healthcare professionals Other Conditions RA Stories Research Self Care Symptoms and Causes Treatment Work and BenefitsSelect resource type… Article Publication Video Clear All Article BMJ Journals – Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (ARD), is one of the world’s leading rheumatology research journals and an official journal of EULAR (European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology). The short summaries that ARD provide are for selected key research papers, written specifically for patients and non-clinicians. You can access the specific research summaries for rheumatoid arthritis summaries below and […] Article BMJ-ARD Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (ARD), is one of the world’s leading rheumatology research journals and an official journal of EULAR (European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology). The short summaries that ARD provide are for selected key research papers, written specifically for patients and non-clinicians. You can access the specific research summaries for rheumatoid arthritis summaries below and […] Article The OPINION study Research Study: Barriers and facilitators of flu, pneumonia and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in adults with inflammatory conditions treated with immune-suppressing drugs Would you like to help with a research study to better understand why some people with inflammatory conditions affecting the joints or the gut, and treated with immune-suppressing medications get vaccinated, while others do not? Vaccines […] Article Top 10 tips for traveling with RA Top 10 tips for traveling with RA Blog by Nadine Garland I think I am the perfect person to ask about traveling with RA, because it is something I love to do and basically what brings me to the UK from Australia. I was diagnosed with RA way back in 1987 at 19 years of age, and was given a bleak prognosis of the life […] Article Survey of people with rheumatic conditions about third primary vaccination doses A group of other charities and patient groups, including NRAS, is supporting a rapid survey aimed at all adults with a rheumatic condition in the UK, to understand the progress of the roll-out of third primary COVID-19 vaccination doses for people who are severely immunosuppressed. We have heard from patients reporting difficulties accessing third primary doses. We hope the survey will […] Load more ↓
Article BMJ Journals – Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (ARD), is one of the world’s leading rheumatology research journals and an official journal of EULAR (European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology). The short summaries that ARD provide are for selected key research papers, written specifically for patients and non-clinicians. You can access the specific research summaries for rheumatoid arthritis summaries below and […]
Article BMJ-ARD Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (ARD), is one of the world’s leading rheumatology research journals and an official journal of EULAR (European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology). The short summaries that ARD provide are for selected key research papers, written specifically for patients and non-clinicians. You can access the specific research summaries for rheumatoid arthritis summaries below and […]
Article The OPINION study Research Study: Barriers and facilitators of flu, pneumonia and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in adults with inflammatory conditions treated with immune-suppressing drugs Would you like to help with a research study to better understand why some people with inflammatory conditions affecting the joints or the gut, and treated with immune-suppressing medications get vaccinated, while others do not? Vaccines […]
Article Top 10 tips for traveling with RA Top 10 tips for traveling with RA Blog by Nadine Garland I think I am the perfect person to ask about traveling with RA, because it is something I love to do and basically what brings me to the UK from Australia. I was diagnosed with RA way back in 1987 at 19 years of age, and was given a bleak prognosis of the life […]
Article Survey of people with rheumatic conditions about third primary vaccination doses A group of other charities and patient groups, including NRAS, is supporting a rapid survey aimed at all adults with a rheumatic condition in the UK, to understand the progress of the roll-out of third primary COVID-19 vaccination doses for people who are severely immunosuppressed. We have heard from patients reporting difficulties accessing third primary doses. We hope the survey will […]
Help support others Because of your generous donations NRAS will continue to be there for everyone affected by RA. MonthlySinglePay in Funds £3£8£15Other £18.74£41.44£165.75Other £50£100£500Other Donate now!