Rheumatoid Arthritis Day

Written by: Lomari Geertsema, M.Sc in Medical Science, Lab Analyst & Jonine Möller, M.Sc in Sport Science

The global awareness day for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is held annually on the 2nd of February. RA is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the joints, causing inflammation and pain. Joints that are commonly affected include your hands, knees or ankles. Typically both sides are impacted, for instance, the joints in both the left and the right hand, which distinguishes RA from other types of arthritis.

RA can be diagnosed with a blood test. Unfortunately, autoimmune conditions are usually incurable, and RA is no exception. However, it can be managed. Managing RA is important, not only because the pain could lead to disability but because organs such as the heart, kidneys, muscles, and bones can also be affected.

Interaction between genes and environmental factors triggers the development of RA. Therefore, testing your genes can tell you how susceptible you are to more severe joint damage if you have the condition. This may be very valuable to guide treatment options. 

Suppose you have severe debilitating joint pain because of RA and are unsure which aspect of your lifestyle or treatment to focus on to improve your symptoms. By having your genes tested by BioCertica, you can determine your genetic risk for severe joint pain. 

If your genetic risk for severe joint pain is increased, you may benefit from more aggressive treatment. On the other hand, if your genetic risk for severe joint pain is decreased, it may be more worthwhile to look at lifestyle factors that may cause increased stress or inflammation in your body.

Gift yourself this RA day and find out how your genes influence the severity of your RA joint injury. For only R1699, you can purchase BioCertica’s Traits DNA kit, which includes this RA trait.