Why is it important to treat rheumatoid arthritis?

So left untreated, inflammatory arthritis can cause irreversible joint damage, impair physical functions and lead to health problems that can severely impact an individual’s ability to lead a full and productive life.

It is important to diagnose and treat early and aggressively.

Generally, the goals of treatments are to relieve pain and swelling and to restore movements to joints. This translates to the ability to work and to function socially, for example, participating in family life, enjoying hobbies and travel.

There is also increasing evidence that uncontrolled inflammation in joints can affect internal organs and as a result reduce life expectancy. So, controlling inflammation in joints also ultimately can translate to normalizing life expectancy.