weakness if it is a bad flare up. The pains may recur a few months later, again triggered by a physical or emotional stress, lasting for long durations, affecting more and more joints; when healing occurs it may lead to stiffness and deformities which is the most worrying aspect of this chronic disease. Although RA is found in all parts of the world , it is more common as severe in cold countries. There are different variations of RA; it may affect joints without swelling ; may be associated with problems in other organs. when it occurs in men, it affects bigger joints like hips, shoulders and spine.

What causes RA?

No single cause has been established. But there are many things that we know about it. One of the major factors known in the cause of RA is autoimmunity.

What is autoimmunity?

The immune system is our defence system equipped with different types of white blood cells to fight any dangerous invasion by enemy bacteria, viruses, foreign bodies or even a transplant tissue. This defence is just like the border security force of a country. The radors sense the enemy movements; the information reaches the chief vigilance officer who is put on the alert. After several meetings and discussions the war is declared; suitable type of army is recruited and the war begins.;continuous moment to moment monitoring goes on until the war is over;the entire country is put on vigilance and co-operation;all other activities and celebrations are deferred except the basic needs. A very similar phenomenon happens within our body. The white blood cells (WBCs )sense the invader, messages are sent to the camp site - the lymph nodes and thymus, where the decision is made to trigger off the fight. Intricate details are noted about the type, quantity, quality and severity of the invasion before decisions are made about what type of army (cells- lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes or chemicals- antibodies, compliments, local hormones) that has to be recruited to the site. Once the