Osteoarthritis is caused by mechanical wear and tear on joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's own immune system attacks the body's joints.
Osteoarthritis is the result of wear and tear on your joints, which causes weakening and deterioration of your cartilage [ Mayo Clinic ]. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an auto-immune disorder, whereby your body attacks and destroys joint cartilage [ NIAMS ]. Both conditions, however, share common symptoms, including joint paint, stiffness and swelling. The risk factors for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are fairly different. Rheumatoid arthritis also causes other symptoms that are unrelated to joint deterioration, such as fatigue, fever and a vague feeling of sickness. The symptoms of osteoarthritis get progressively worse as you age [ Mayo Clinic ]. The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, however, can flare up and dissipate The basic difference between the conditions arises due to their underlying cause. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease. This means that it takes place because of wear and tear of the cartilage between the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, takes place because of an autoimmune disorder. Summary: 1. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs due to an autoimmune response of the body, while osteoarthritis is mainly a result of mechanical wear and tear of the cartilage in between the joints. 2. Osteoarthritis affects older people, but rheumatoid arthritis can affect anyone. 3 • Osteoarthritis is a very common joint condition that occurs due to wear and tear. Also read: 1. Difference Between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatiod Arthritis. 2. Difference Between Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. 3. Difference Between Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis. 4. Difference Between Gout and Arthritis. 5. Arthritis is a blanket term which includes all types of arthritis like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, and gout. Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a very common joint condition. Women are more prone to symptomatic osteoarthritis than men. Arthritis is an umbrella term used to describe pain, stiffness and inflammation of the joints. However, there are different kinds of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). Although RA and OA both affect the joints, they are very different forms of the same broader condition. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition, while osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease. The most common type of arthritis, osteoarthritis involves wear-and-tear damage to the cartilage that caps the bones in your joints. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in joint deformity. While both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis can affect the small joints of the hand, there are differences. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect the middle joints of the fingers and the joints where the fingers attach to the hand. Osteoarthritis more commonly affects the joints at the ends of the fingers and at the base of the thumb. In rheumatoid arthritis, the same joints usually are affected on both sides of the body The pattern of joints that are affected also vary between the two conditions. In rheumatoid arthritis, small joints and larger ones are affected on both sides of the body, usually in a symmetrical manner. This symmetry is absent in osteo arthritis. Summary: 1. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs due to an autoimmune response of the body, while osteoarthritis is mainly a result of mechanical wear and tear of the cartilage in between the joints. 2. Osteoarthritis affects older people, but rheumatoid arthritis can affect anyone. 3 So an accurate diagnosis is important. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis affects about one-tenth as many people as osteoarthritis. The main difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is the cause behind the joint symptoms. Osteoarthritis is caused by mechanical wear and tear on joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's own immune system attacks the body's joint Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, involves the wearing away of the cartilage that caps the bones in your joints. With rheumatoid arthritis, the synovial membrane that protects and lubricates joints becomes inflamed, causing pain and swelling. Joint erosion may follow. 
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difference between osteo and rheumatoid arthritis