Inflammation is the reason patients with rheumatoid arthritis develop swollen and painful joints. But inflammation is not unique to rheumatoid arthritis; it is also behind other painful joint conditions.

A little over half a century ago, cigarettes were not seen as a danger. Some doctors even recommended them. Today, we know that cigarettes are linked to a variety of health problems, including arthritis.

People with ankylosing spondylitis can develop weak and brittle bones, or osteoporosis. But it can be hard to spot osteoporosis in these patients because of certain traits of ankylosing spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis is not the most common cause of back pain. As such, it might be over-the-top to screen every back pain patient for ankylosing spondylitis . So, how can doctors more easily spot those with the disease?

Millions of people across the United States suffer from some form of arthritis. To reduce these numbers, researchers first have to know what populations are most affected.