Ravi Shankar Ravi Shankar Asked 7 months ago

Is rheumatoid arthritis a genetic disease?

My mother has rheumatoid arthritis, and her sister also has it. I'm worried if I might get it too. Is rheumatoid arthritis a genetic disease? Should I get tested?

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7 answers

Rohit Shetty Rohit Shetty Joined May 2026 5 months ago
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I can only share what happened in my family. My mother had severe RA, and now I have been diagnosed too, so there seems to be some connection. But my siblings don't have any symptoms at all, so it's not a guarantee.

Karan Taneja Karan Taneja Joined Jan 2026 7 months ago

Even if there is a genetic link, staying active helps keep the joints flexible. I make sure to do 30 minutes of low-impact walking every day. Just check with your doctor first about what exercises are safe for your joints.

Meenakshi Sundaram Meenakshi Sundaram Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

When my daughter got diagnosed, we got ourselves tested too because we were so worried it was genetic. The doctor told us that genes only give a tendency, but environmental triggers actually start the disease. So don't blame yourself.

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Consult a rheumatologist

Harbhajan Singh Harbhajan Singh Joined Jul 2026 4 months ago

Beta, sometimes these illnesses run in families, but our lifestyle also matters a lot. Eat fresh home-cooked food and drink warm milk with a pinch of organic turmeric. Keeping your digestive fire healthy helps prevent these family ailments from waking up.

Nisha Shah Nisha Shah Joined Mar 2026 7 months ago

My doctor at Kokilaben Hospital told me that while genes play a role, it is not a direct hereditary disease where your kids will definitely get it. It is best to consult a good rheumatologist who can explain the exact risk factors to you.

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Priya Sen Priya Sen Joined May 2026 6 months ago

Yes, genetics can make you more susceptible, though other triggers like stress or infections are usually needed to start it.

Aditya Roy Aditya Roy Joined May 2026 5 months ago

I totally get it, you must be worried about passing this on to your kids or thinking about your parents. It does have some genetic basis, but it is not 100% hereditary. Try not to stress too much about it right now.

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