Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)About 1.5 million people in the United States have rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease causing pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in the joints. A healthy immune system protects the body by attacking foreign bacteria and viruses, but an autoimmune disease causes the body to mistakenly attack healthy tissue. The Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network (RASN) is working to ensure that the millions of people living with RA have access to the most accurate and well-researched information available. Their website is a great resource, so make sure to check it out: www.