When she consulted her primary care provider and they conducted a few tests, she was told that she was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Sharma: Rajni, rheumatoid arthritis is a long-lasting autoimmune disease, meaning that one’s own immune cells start attacking the joints. There are several types of arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis is different from osteoarthritis, which is more common and occurs due to overuse. The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is made by checking for rheumatoid antibody, which is present in many patients, and checking for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody, which may also be present in many patients. So, while rheumatoid arthritis cannot be completely prevented, there are certain lifestyles that can be adopted.