Doctor Says Rheumatoid Arthritis Can Begin in Teenagers and Explains the Warning Signs

Dr. Punam Krishan is raising awareness about rheumatoid arthritis in younger adults, warning that the autoimmune disease can appear as early as age 16.

The Glasgow GP, who is working with British mobility brand Stannah on an awareness campaign, said symptoms in younger people are often mistaken for ordinary tiredness or overuse. “For younger people, it’s often easier to explain away and overlook symptoms that are so commonly associated with older generations,” she said.

She noted that stiff fingers after a day at work may be blamed on typing or manual labour, while ongoing fatigue can be brushed aside amid busy routines. Rheumatoid arthritis develops when the immune system attacks the tissue lining joints on both sides of the body, and Cleveland Clinic data says it affects about 1.5 million adults in the United States alone.

“Pain and stiffness are the most common joint symptoms that younger people come to me with in the first place,” the doctor explained.

Krishan said it is important to distinguish normal aches from symptoms that need medical review. Minor sprains and strains usually improve within around two weeks, she said. If recovery takes longer, or if swelling and stiffness start appearing in other joints, that should prompt a visit to a doctor.

She also pointed to a wider problem: general practitioners can sometimes miss rheumatoid arthritis in younger patients because the illness is still strongly associated with older age in both medicine and public perception. CDC figures show arthritis rates rise sharply with age, from 3.6 percent among adults aged 18 to 34 to 53.9 percent in those 75 and older, which reinforces that stereotype.

To help overcome that, Krishan advised people to keep a detailed log of symptoms, including when they happen and whether they appear after rest or after physical activity. She said that kind of record can help challenge assumptions during appointments.

She also said family history matters, because the condition can run in families, and patients should tell their doctors if relatives have rheumatoid arthritis.

Risk also varies by gender. Women are three times more likely than men to develop rheumatoid arthritis, although researchers have not yet identified the reason for the difference.

Krishan gave a clear guideline for getting help. “My golden rule is to visit your GP if you’re relying on painkillers most days just to get through stiffness or pain. That’s your body telling you to get it looked at properly,” she added.

The campaign comes as autoimmune diseases in younger people receive growing attention from researchers and patient advocates who are concerned about delayed diagnoses. Krishan’s partnership with Stannah, a company best known for stairlifts and home elevators usually marketed to older customers, is a deliberate attempt to reach people who may not see themselves as being at risk of degenerative joint disease.

Along with joint pain and stiffness, symptoms can include persistent tiredness that feels out of proportion to activity, morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, and symmetrical joint involvement that helps distinguish inflammatory arthritis from mechanical wear and tear. Krishan said these patterns should not be dismissed as simply part of modern working life or an active lifestyle.

Early treatment is important because untreated rheumatoid arthritis can gradually damage joints and affect other organs, making prompt recognition especially valuable for younger patients who may live with the disease for many years.

Stannah has not announced any further campaign events beyond the initial awareness push with Krishan.