Rheumatoid Arthritis – Cassone Wellness

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Studies have shown that if you have rheumatoid arthritis, your risk of developing heart disease is two to three times higher than people who do not have the disorder.¹

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Understanding the Autoimmune Disease That Affects Millions

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is more than just “aches and pains.” It’s a chronic autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy joint tissue, leading to painful inflammation, swelling, and potential long-term damage. Affecting millions worldwide, RA can impact daily life significantly—but with early diagnosis and modern treatments, many people live full, active lives.

What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

RA is a systemic autoimmune disease primarily targeting the synovium—the lining of the joints. It commonly affects joints symmetrically (both sides of the body), such as the hands, wrists, knees, ankles, and feet. Unlike osteoarthritis, which results from wear and tear, RA involves the immune system releasing inflammatory chemicals that attack the body’s own tissues.

Over time, unchecked inflammation can erode cartilage and bone, causing joint deformity and loss of function. RA can also affect other body systems, including the eyes, skin, heart, lungs, and blood vessels.

Symptoms of RA

Symptoms often start gradually and can fluctuate with periods of flares (worsening) and remission (improvement). Common signs include:

Joint pain, tenderness, warmth, and swelling (especially in small joints of hands and feet).
Morning stiffness lasting more than 30–60 minutes.
Fatigue, low-grade fever, and unintentional weight loss.
Reduced range of motion and muscle weakness over time.

Extra-articular (outside the joints) symptoms may include dry eyes/mouth (Sjogren’s syndrome overlap), rheumatoid nodules under the skin, or inflammation in organs.

Early symptoms can mimic other conditions, so persistent joint issues warrant medical attention.

Causes and Risk Factors

According to conventional care, the cause remains unknown, but holistic medicine focuses on the organ systems involved and addresses the root cause of the systemic inflammation. The reason why it is associated with risk of heart disease is that the entire vascular network is typically inflamed, which eventually affects the heart directly.

Conventional Treatment Options

Conventional treatment is one-size-fits-all. As there is no investigation of cause, treatment is aimed and symptoms only and do not have an exit plan.

Medications:

DMARDs (Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs): Methotrexate is often first-line; others include hydroxychloroquine or sulfasalazine.
Biologics and Targeted Therapies: TNF inhibitors, JAK inhibitors (e.g., tofacitinib, upadacitinib), and others that block specific immune pathways.
Short-term: NSAIDs for pain, low-dose corticosteroids for flares.

All of which have terrible side effects, are costly, and offer no approach that supports normal physiology.

Diseases that affect the whole body need a whole body approach to medicine.

Holistic Care

systemic inflammation has a cause
treatment based on diet, lifestyle, herbs, nutrition, acupuncture
each patient is unique and treatment is individualized
modifications to treatment are made based on response
reduction of treatment based on improvements
no side effects
cost effective
understanding creates empowerment

We see a lot of this patient category. Our approach is radically different compared to conventional care. We look at the organ systems involved and treat the body holistically.