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. 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 02. 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 03. 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 04. 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 05. 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 06. 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 07. 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 08. 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 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 Apni Jung info for South Asian community Community COVID-19 Diagnosis and Monitoring Diet and Exercise Events Family Planning Healthcare professionals Other Conditions Research Self-management Symptoms and Causes Treatment Work and BenefitsSelect resource type… Article Facebook Live NRAS Live Publication Video Clear All Article A look back at RA Awareness Week 2024 | #STOPtheStereotype A look back at RA Awareness Week 2024 | #STOPtheStereotype Blog by Eleanor Burfitt This year for RA Awareness Week 2024, our aim was to #STOPtheStereotype – highlighting the misconceptions that people who live with RA hear on a daily basis. We set up a new #STOPtheStereotype quiz for people to test these statements and […] Article NRAS Health Wallet NRAS has been working in partnership with Cohesion Medical to test and develop an app which helps you to manage your RA in a lot of different ways. This app, which we are calling the NRAS Health Wallet (just like a wallet you can put things in and take things out), is being used and tested with […] Article Scouse & Scholars: NRAS at the BSR Conference A quick look back at our time at the British Society of Rheumatology (BSR) Conference at the end of April. Article Fasting with Rheumatoid Arthritis: part 2 Many of us with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) face unique challenges in maintaining a healthy diet while managing our condition. In this post, I’ll share my personal experience on how I managed fasting with RA this year. I’ve lived with rheumatoid arthritis for 14 years now, my symptoms began soon after having my 2nd child in […] Article MISSION-RA study The aim of the MISSION-RA project is to develop a digital intervention to help people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) engage in physical activity, to help improve RA outcomes. We are looking to recruit people living with RA to be involved in a the “MovIngto Support Sustained Improvement of Outcomes iN Rheumatoid Arthritis – MISSION-RA” research study, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The […] Load more ↓ Help support others Because of your generous donations NRAS will continue to be there for everyone affected by RA. MonthlySinglePay in Funds £5£10£20Other £16.68£34.00£83.56Other £50£100£500Other Donate now!
01. 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
02. 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
03. 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
04. 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
05. 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
06. 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
07. 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
08. 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
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 Apni Jung info for South Asian community Community COVID-19 Diagnosis and Monitoring Diet and Exercise Events Family Planning Healthcare professionals Other Conditions Research Self-management Symptoms and Causes Treatment Work and BenefitsSelect resource type… Article Facebook Live NRAS Live Publication Video Clear All Article A look back at RA Awareness Week 2024 | #STOPtheStereotype A look back at RA Awareness Week 2024 | #STOPtheStereotype Blog by Eleanor Burfitt This year for RA Awareness Week 2024, our aim was to #STOPtheStereotype – highlighting the misconceptions that people who live with RA hear on a daily basis. We set up a new #STOPtheStereotype quiz for people to test these statements and […] Article NRAS Health Wallet NRAS has been working in partnership with Cohesion Medical to test and develop an app which helps you to manage your RA in a lot of different ways. This app, which we are calling the NRAS Health Wallet (just like a wallet you can put things in and take things out), is being used and tested with […] Article Scouse & Scholars: NRAS at the BSR Conference A quick look back at our time at the British Society of Rheumatology (BSR) Conference at the end of April. Article Fasting with Rheumatoid Arthritis: part 2 Many of us with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) face unique challenges in maintaining a healthy diet while managing our condition. In this post, I’ll share my personal experience on how I managed fasting with RA this year. I’ve lived with rheumatoid arthritis for 14 years now, my symptoms began soon after having my 2nd child in […] Article MISSION-RA study The aim of the MISSION-RA project is to develop a digital intervention to help people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) engage in physical activity, to help improve RA outcomes. We are looking to recruit people living with RA to be involved in a the “MovIngto Support Sustained Improvement of Outcomes iN Rheumatoid Arthritis – MISSION-RA” research study, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The […] Load more ↓
Article A look back at RA Awareness Week 2024 | #STOPtheStereotype A look back at RA Awareness Week 2024 | #STOPtheStereotype Blog by Eleanor Burfitt This year for RA Awareness Week 2024, our aim was to #STOPtheStereotype – highlighting the misconceptions that people who live with RA hear on a daily basis. We set up a new #STOPtheStereotype quiz for people to test these statements and […]
Article NRAS Health Wallet NRAS has been working in partnership with Cohesion Medical to test and develop an app which helps you to manage your RA in a lot of different ways. This app, which we are calling the NRAS Health Wallet (just like a wallet you can put things in and take things out), is being used and tested with […]
Article Scouse & Scholars: NRAS at the BSR Conference A quick look back at our time at the British Society of Rheumatology (BSR) Conference at the end of April.
Article Fasting with Rheumatoid Arthritis: part 2 Many of us with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) face unique challenges in maintaining a healthy diet while managing our condition. In this post, I’ll share my personal experience on how I managed fasting with RA this year. I’ve lived with rheumatoid arthritis for 14 years now, my symptoms began soon after having my 2nd child in […]
Article MISSION-RA study The aim of the MISSION-RA project is to develop a digital intervention to help people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) engage in physical activity, to help improve RA outcomes. We are looking to recruit people living with RA to be involved in a the “MovIngto Support Sustained Improvement of Outcomes iN Rheumatoid Arthritis – MISSION-RA” research study, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The […]
Help support others Because of your generous donations NRAS will continue to be there for everyone affected by RA. MonthlySinglePay in Funds £5£10£20Other £16.68£34.00£83.56Other £50£100£500Other Donate now!