What Triggers Rheumatoid Arthritis?

A sudden increase in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) inflammation, known as a flare, may lead to a rise in rheumatoid arthritis symptoms such as joint pain, joint swelling, and fatigue.  Although there are some known causes that could lead to a RA flare, these causes are different for everyone, and they are not always predictable.

In this post you will read about 5 things that trigger rheumatoid arthritis.

Stress

Individuals with RA often notice periods of high stress just before a flare.  A 2010 review of 16 studies on stress and RA, published in the journal Arthritis Research & Therapy, concluded that there is sufficient evidence to support that stress is often a flare trigger.

Infection

Rheumatoid arthritis drugs suppress the immune system, which means that if an individual gets an infection the risk is higher.  Even the common cold or the flu might be a cause for a flare of rheumatoid arthritis.

Foods

Certain foods can cause a flare of symptoms.  However, exact culprits are hard to pinpoint because the problematic foods are different for everyone.  This makes it impossible to do research on food triggers of an RA flare.  For many people it may be a food allergy, for others, it might be a chemical sensitivity.  The best strategy is to keep track of which foods trigger your symptoms and avoid them.

Fatigue

Fatigue can trigger rheumatoid arthritis inflammation.  Once you improve the fatigue that you are feeling, it will help decrease the rheumatoid arthritis flare that you are experiencing.  In addition, new medication can help reduce exhaustion.  Fatigue is caused by both physical and mental factors.  Compounds called cytokines have been shown to promote inflammation and cause fatigue in people with RA.  New drugs, called biologics, can prevent the release of cytokines and protect against exhaustion.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy turns the immune system symptoms to the off position to help it enter remission.  However, months after giving birth there can be a severe onset of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.  Approximately, 75% of women with rheumatoid arthritis go into remission during pregnancy, and up to 90% experience a flare during the first year after childbirth.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a difficult disease to deal with.  Flares can be debilitating and can affect an individuals quality of life.  This is why it is important to understand what causes a flare.  This way you can try your best to avoid those causes to be flare free.