A major public awareness campaign has been launched aimed at increasing the public's knowledge about symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and educating the public about the importance of early treatment of this serious condition.

The advertising campaign highlights how difficult simple daily tasks can become if you suffer from painful, stiff and swollen joints with RA and encourages consumers to take action by calling Arthritis Ireland on 1850 911 995 or visiting arthritisireland.ie to receive a free information pack.

According to Arthritis Ireland CEO John Church: "It is normal to feel powerless and isolated when joint pain, stiffness and swelling begins to prevent people from doing even the most basic, everyday tasks. However, it is possible to effectively manage arthritis"

Consultant rheumatologist Prof David Kane said if a person is experiencing painful stiff and swollen joints, it could be an early sign of RA, and he would urge them to visit their doctor and get in touch with Arthritis Ireland to receive their free information pack.

RA is a chronic and often painful disease affecting the joints, causing them to become inflamed. An inflamed joint looks swollen and red, and appears warm to touch. This inflammation can lead to permanent damage in the joints if the disease is not treated.

It is estimated that 40,000 people have the condition in Ireland. It affects three times more women than men. Most people develop rheumatoid arthritis between the ages of 25-50.

The other type of arthritis, osteoarthritis, is caused by wear and tear of cartilage in the joints -it is the most common form of arthritis in Ireland. In osteoarthritis, the surface of a joint becomes damaged and the surrounding bone grows thicker.

The RA campaign was developed by Arthritis Ireland and Pfizer Healthcare.

Visit irishhealth.com's Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinic