known as a flare
             up. These periods of remissions and flares are typical and vary from patient to patient.
             Symptoms include fatigue, loss of appetite, and more common, low grade fevers and joint
             pain and stiffness. Joints often become red, swollen, painful and tender. This is caused
             when the lining tissues of the joint, also known as synovium, become inflamed, the body
             produces excessive amounts of joint fluid, or synovial fluid. Most of the small joints of the
             hands, wrists, and feet are involved making simple tasks, such as turning a door knob,
             opening a jar, or even writing a note very difficult during flare ups. Chronic inflammation
             can cause permanent tissue damage and damage to cartilage and bone which can lead to
             joint deformity and sometimes loss of function of that area.
             Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect the body's organs as well as other areas beside
             the joints. Inflammation of the glands of the eyes and mouth, called Sjogren's syndrome,
             cause severe dryness to the areas making it difficult to see and to swallow. More serious
             is inflammation in the lining of the lungs (pleuritis) and inflamma
             ...